(BPT) – Spring is here, and so are the chores that come with it, like spring cleaning and tuning up the lawnmower. Here’s a tip – don’t forget your garage door.
Don’t feel badly if you have; most people don’t give their garage door a second thought until something breaks, then it’s too late. Repairs can be expensive – especially if you haven’t taken the time to find a trusted professional to make those repairs.
GarageDoorCare.com offers a free three-step program to help homeowners achieve garage door peace of mind in 2016:
1. Lubricate your garage door twice a year (it’s easier than you think).
2. Sign up for a free twice-a-year email garage door lubrication reminder.
3. Find a trusted, local garage door pro well in advance of a problem.
Most homeowners have never lubricated their garage door, and that’s why you may hear squeaks and groans. Over time, that could lead to trouble. But lubricating a garage door is easy. A quick visit to GarageDoorCare.com will show you how to lubricate the door, rollers and hinges. Five minutes of your time and a $5 spray can of garage door lubricant available at your local hardware store are all you need to potentially save a costly service call down the road. The site also demonstrates several other easy steps homeowners can take to keep their door in peak operating condition.
You don’t need to wait for the squeaks and groans to start before lubricating your door. A good rule of thumb is to lubricate your door twice a year, when you change your clocks, for example. The International Door Association (IDA), a worldwide trade association of garage door and access professionals – and the sponsor of GarageDoorCare.com – invites consumers to register for twice-a-year emails that will remind them it’s time to lubricate the garage door. And signing up doesn’t mean a flood of emails or sales calls: Two simple emails a year – that’s all.
Following these maintenance tips will extend the life of most of your garage door parts, but sometimes, despite your best efforts, your garage door will need professional attention. Unfortunately, no amount of lubrication can keep a worn out spring from breaking, and when your garage door stops working you’ll need a professional. It’s not something a homeowner should try to repair themselves – a garage door is the largest and heaviest moving object in a home, and can cause severe injuries or even death if damaged or misused.
That’s when identifying a pro well ahead of time will pay off. Chances are you have a plumber or heating and cooling professional with whom you’ve developed a relationship over the years, but where do you go to find a garage door repairman you can trust? You can, and should, consider doing so ahead of time.
GarageDoorCare.com offers a “Find a Qualified Professional” page through which homeowners can find experienced, local garage door service and repair businesses that are IDA members committed to operating their businesses by the IDA Code of Business Conduct. This commitment to professionalism and safety goes a long way in helping homeowners avoid unscrupulous firms that sell unneeded parts and overcharge customers.
You may have seen stories on the local news or even national investigative news programs where so-called garage door repairmen are caught on camera allegedly bilking customers. Knowing how to access a trusted pro can save you stress, money and ensure that your garage door is repaired properly the first time.
So as you plan out your spring chores, don’t forget to add your garage door to the list. It won’t take much time and it’s as simple as one-two-three.
