Care and Maintenance of Overhead Doors
Commercial and industrial businesses alike benefit from secure and well-installed overhead doors. After you have hired an overhead door company in Toronto to install these doors, however, you still need to make sure that they are properly cared for and maintained. Steel doors tend to be extremely durable, making this maintenance very easy. However, there are still certain steps that you can take to avoid damage, corrosion, and other issues that might limit the effectiveness of your doors as the years roll on.
Inspecting the Door and Mechanisms
A standard commercial overhead door will stand the test of time, but that doesn’t mean that the unexpected can’t cause damage here and there. Once or twice a year, make sure to perform a thorough inspection of your overhead door. This should include looking for areas where the paint has scraped off, which might increase the speed of corrosion. You should also be sure to check the opening mechanisms themselves for wear and tear, especially if the door gets used frequently. Does the overhead door make more noise when it opens and closes than it used to? Does the chain look rusted or damaged? If so, you might need to connect with an overhead door service in Toronto to make repairs.
Check the Seals and Springs
In addition to the metallic surfaces and automated aspects of an overhead door, you need to be aware that seals and springs might get damaged over time. This is, in many cases, more likely, as seals especially are not made of the same durable material as the rest of the overhead door. Rubber seals help to prevent moisture from getting around the edge of the doors, and the springs allow the opening and closing mechanisms to work properly. When you do your inspection of the overhead doors, not any tear in the seals or wear on the springs. Noting these issues early allows you to replace the problem parts before they allow damage to continue further and become a major problem.
Clean the Surface
Even if everything remains properly sealed, the door itself can get scratched up, dented, and damaged over time. When you perform your inspection of your overhead doors, take the time to wash the interior and exterior of the doors. Usually, this can be done with a simple hose or pressure washer. This gets rid of the buildup of any foreign substances and makes it easier for you to identify where paint may have peeled away or rust might become a threat. If your overhead doors are painted, you may occasionally need to touch up the pain job. Doing so will prevent further damage to the material beneath the paint and provide an extra layer of protection against the elements.
Most overhead doors will last for years or even decades before needing serious repairs. By taking these steps to inspect and evaluate your doors, you can extend their lifespan even longer. A few minutes every year spent in basic preventative maintenance can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.
