As a garage functions to serve various purposes, storing tools and keeping your vehicle stored, a well-maintained garage can preserve your investment, be secure, or improve property value. As a homeowner, you might tend to look past your garage and not think about maintenance until the unforeseen happens and you are faced with an unanticipated and costly repair. Garage door repair in Coquitlam can easily be overlooked until a safe and secure environment begins to deteriorate and the gate starts to pose risks. These doors can fail, and weather protection and items of damage can occur from leaks. More often than not, it’s the cluttered garage that presents the most risk, or there could be a fire hazard from never maintaining items stored.

Inspect and Lubricate the Garage Door Mechanism

The garage door or doors will most likely be the largest moving part of the home and potentially the most frequently used. Over time, some key components are going to wear, and the motion that they will endure over the years could lead to failures if not maintained. To commence garage door maintenance, check every moving part, look at springs, hinges, rollers, and tracks. Look for signs of rust, corrosion, and other deterioration that might be present. Check for any loose bolts, frayed cables, or any rollers that look to be off track. If everything looks good, they ensure movement is smooth and quietly lubricate the hinges, rollers, springs, and tracks with silicone-based lubricant. A lubricant would be oil or grease-based. Do not use grease or oil-based lubricants, as they will create a dirt-attracting sticky surface and lead to buildup.

Weatherproof the Garage to Keep Out Moisture

Water intrusion is a stealthy enemy of your garage. It can lead to wood rot, rust on your tools and appliances, mold, and damage to whatever you have stored in your garage. To combat water from leaking in, you’ll want to conduct inspections, starting with the weather stripping on your garage door and entry doors. If the weather stripping is cracked, torn, or missing, it’s time to replace it so that rain and wind can’t get through. Next, check your garage floor and garage walls for water stains or efflorescence (a white powdery residue). These may indicate seepage into the garage.

You can seal your garage floor with an epoxy coating if you want to seal your garage floor and make it resistant to moisture and stains. Be sure to keep gutters and downspouts directed away from your garage foundation. Maintain Electrical and Lighting Systems

Whether you discovered that faulty wiring or overloaded circuits can quickly turn your garage into a fire risk, check outlets or switches and exposed wiring to see if any of these items appear worn, frayed, or scorched. If something looks damaged or you frequently see flickering of any light, it’s best to call a licensed electrician right away. Verify if your garage has a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet, as electrical shocks can happen even in a damp storage area. Keep the area around electrical panels clear of items and clutter.

Replace traditional lighting with LED lighting throughout the garage. LEDs give off good light, are more efficient, and last longer. In garage settings, where lighting can be dim or low and can result in accidents, ensure proper lighting is sufficient to prevent accidents. If you use power tools or appliances in the garage, ensure that your electricity is not overloading any circuits or wires.

Maintain Electrical and Lighting Systems

If you discovered that faulty wiring or overloaded circuits can quickly turn your garage into a fire risk. Check outlets or switches and exposed wiring to see if any of these items appear worn, frayed, or scorched. If something looks damaged or you frequently see flickering of any light, it’s best to call a licensed electrician right away. Verify if your garage has a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet, as electrical shocks can happen even in a damp storage area. Keep the area around electrical panels clear of items and clutter. Replace traditional lighting with LED lighting throughout the garage. LEDs give off good light, are more efficient, and last longer. In garage settings, where lighting can be dim or low and can result in accidents, ensure proper lighting is sufficient to prevent accidents.

Organize and Declutter Regularly

A messy garage is not only ugly, but can be a safety hazard as well. Stacked boxes, unused furniture, or paint cans can become a tripping hazard or cause a fire. Consider spending some time every few months to declutter your garage. Sort items into groups: keep, donate, sell, or toss out. Use shelves, pegboards, and hooks attached to the wall to keep tools or items stored off the floor. Consider overhead storage for seasonal items like holiday decorations or camping gear. For small parts or hardware bins, keep them labeled and do not stack them so high that they fall over.

There are a lot of benefits to decluttering your garage. It makes it easier to find your tools or items; it reduces the chance of pests hiding in an abandoned corner; it makes usable space for your car or other things; and it limits your stuff from taking up space in your garage.

Check and Replace Garage Door Seals

Garage door seals are important for keeping out pests, dust, moisture, and drafts. The bottom seal (or weather seal) keeps rain from coming in, and keeps rodents from sneaking in through small openings. Seals can crack, shrink, or flatten over time, losing effectiveness. Check the bottom and side seals for any visible signs of wear, and whether daylight is showing underneath when the door is closed. Replacing these seals should be done as soon as damage is noted. Almost every hardware store has universal garage door seals that can be easily installed. If you live in a colder climate, consider using a rubber threshold seal to prevent blowing snow and ice. This small protection could be worth the investment to keep your stuff safe, to help keep the inside temperature regulated, and energy bills lower if the garage is insulated or heated.

The Last Words

Letting maintenance tasks slide might invite or facilitate pest control issues, and issues with drying the space out, weatherproofing, intent or concern for entry and exit with doors, and electrical maintenance, including disengaged items. Each area of maintenance will assist you in having a fun, functional, disaster-free, and safe garage year-round. Continuing proper maintenance with attention to a few hours per season will hopefully minimize the likelihood of distress or breakdowns.