You probably don't spend a ton of time thinking about your home's garage door, but if you are like most people, you use it hundreds of time a year. All of that use will lead to wear and tear over time, so it's important that you stay on top of things as much as you can. To that end, here are 3 garage door maintenance tips that will hopefully keep all parts of your door in top shape for many years to come.

Lubrication is Key

Watch your garage door closely as it opens and closes. Does it do its job in one smooth motion or does it seem a bit jerky? Do you hear strange noises as the door moves along the tracks? If so, a likely culprit could be a lack of lubrication. Moving parts, like the garage door springs and the opener's screw, need to be lubed up in order to work as efficiently as possible. Use a penetrating oil-based spray to lubricate your garage door's moving parts.

Socket Wrench to the Rescue

Another reason the door might appear to be struggling as it opens and closes could be because some of the hardware has become a bit loose. It's time to break out your trusty socket wrench and get to work. Start with the roller brackets and then check every last bolt you can find, ensuring that everything is nice and tight. While you're doing this, you can also inspect the rollers themselves for signs of wear and tear. Worn or cracked rollers should be replaced as soon as possible.

Clear the Tracks of Debris

Your garage door tracks are what the door literally moves through on its way down and back up again. Over time, it's possible for the tracks to become cluttered with dirt, grass, leaves and other annoyances that can make it more difficult for the door to do its job. If you don't clean the tracks on a regular basis, the door could actually get stuck one day and cause the tracks to fall out of alignment.

If you want your garage door to continue operating without problems for years to come, you need to get into the habit of performing regular maintenance tasks on it just like you would for any other part of your house. Take steps to make sure all moving parts are properly lubricated and tightened. Clean the garage door tracks and the door itself from time to time as well. If this sounds like too much work for you, consider hiring a garage door repair specialist to come out to the house for a regular inspection and maintenance check up. Visit a site like http://premierdoorcorp.com for more information.