When it comes to home maintenance, the garage door can tend to be an overlooked part of the house. But you'll certainly wish you had paid more attention to it the moment it gets stuck while you're trying to park your car. If you want to keep your garage door in great condition for years to come, here are four maintenance tips that can help.

Lube It Up

Your garage door's moving parts are big fans of lubricating solvents. Find a spray can of your favorite solvent at your local hardware store and then get to work. You'll want to spray the hinges, rollers, springs and the roller track with a bit of solvent and then give it some time to dry. If you notice any rust, try and gently file it away before applying the lube. Do this at least once per season to keep your door moving up and down comfortably. 

Remove Debris

Sometimes the roller track can get bits of debris stuck inside of it, and this can cause extra stress on the rollers and springs as the door moves up and down. This can especially happen during the fall once leaves start to fall or immediately after you cut the grass and bring the lawnmower back inside. Get an instrument that can fit inside the track and remove any bits of leaves or grass clippings you can find. If there is a spot in the track that has a bunch of gunk built up that you can't seem to sweep out, try putting in a bit of kerosene and then scrubbing the track with an old toothbrush.

Inspect Your Weather Stripping

The weather stripping on the bottom and sides of your door may not be crucial to the general operation of the door but it is critical if you want to keep your home properly insulated. Check to make sure the strips are not jamming on the sides and replace the strips once you notice wear and tear starting to build up.

Test the Emergency Stop

Finally, open the door and put a piece of tall plywood or similar object right where the door should close. Push the button again and watch it go down. The very second the door bumps into the wood, it should automatically reverse itself and go back up. You want to check this emergency reverse mechanism at least once per season, especially if you have small children or pets at home.

If you want to keep your garage door functioning properly for a long time to come, a little lubrication and debris clean up can go a long way. If you notice a problem, contact a garage spring repair specialist for assistance.