Taking care of your garage door is generally not in the forefront of anyone’s mind but if you think of some of the valuable things we keep behind those doors, it may help you think twice. One of the least secured parts of a home are typically garages. Potential burglars look for weaknesses and often times garages tend to be one of those things.

So, to decrease your chances of your garage door being a weakness or to simply making your garage door last longer here are a few tips:

• Inspect all moving parts for cleanliness. This includes the springs, cables, rollers, track and even the lock. Keeping these areas clean and free of debris will help keep them working properly.

• Inspect all moving parts for wear and tear. If there are signs of damage be sure to make repairs before the door is used again. Minor repairs can be done by a handy do-it-yourselfer but some things like high tension springs could lead to injury and should most likely be dealt with by a qualified service technician.

• By lubricating the moving parts, you will extend their life. This should be done sparingly, as doing this too often can attract dirt and will eventually cause issues by gumming up.