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5 Key Tips for Bifold Door Maintenance

Bifold doors are a popular choice to give your homes and offices a modern aesthetic look. These doors are easy to operate and can be used for years to come. Bifold door companies such as Open Wall System provide Bifold doors in various designs. These companies also provide installation services of these doors and these will be good to use for years. However, these doors require continuous maintenance to operate smoothly for years. Here are 5 key tips that you can use for bifold door maintenance

Regular cleaning and dusting

Regular cleaning of the bifold entryways is pivotal to keep them running for a long term.

Clean tracks and seals

You should regularly clean the tracks and seals of the doors to ensure the doors operate smoothly. Dust and debris can accumulate in them over time. If these are left unattended, these can damage your bifold doors mechanism and obstruct the operation. Therefore, regular cleaning is crucial for prolonged use of these doors. 

  • Use clean soft cloth to wipe down the seals. 
  • Use a vacuum cleaner to collect the dust. Use cloth or dust feather to remove any remaining dust.

Clean frames

Cleaning of frames is not only essential to prolong their life but also to let them look new. It would be good to clean the frames at least once a week.

  • Wipe the frames gently with a clean soft cloth or a dust feather.
  • Avoid using  any rough material on the frame that can casue scrathes. 
  • Always choose a mild cleaner with smoothe consistency.
  • You should not try to scratch any hard stain. Rather use a cleaning product that is suitable for your frame material. 
  • Ask your company which cleaning solutions will be good to use on your door frames.

Clean glass

The bifold glass door not only lets in plenty of natural light but also provides a clear and beautiful view of the outside. However, if the glass is dirty or has scratches, it would make them dull and cloudy. It’s better to clean glass regualalrt in order to avoid the dull looking glass.

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  • Get a quaility glass cleaner to remove specks of dust and streaks on the glass.
  • Spray the solution of the glass and use a soft microfiber cloth to wipe the glass.
  • Use a squeegee to wipe the glass thoroughly.
  • At last, dry the glass using a clean dry cloth or an old newspaper.

Clean and maintain the locks

Cleaning and maintaining locks is also essential to keep the doors functional for a long time. You should lubricate the door locks every couple of months to keep them operating smoothly. You can use a lubricating oil for the purpose. Just spray some oil on the lock and the key as well. Now, insert the key in the key hole and give it a few turns. Doing so will let the oil penetrate in the lock, smoothing the machine. 

Inspect and lubricate the hinges and tracks

You should inspect the hinges and tracks periodically to ensure a smooth operation. These areas are prone to wear and tear and can cause obstruction in operation if not treated on time. 

  • Check the hinges is there is a damage of wearoff due to weather.
  • See for rust if there is any and utilize a wire brush to clean off the rust.
  • Apply a rust inhibitor to the rusted region to avoid it from rusting assist.
  • Inspect the screws carefully to identify if any of these require some screwing.
  • Lubricate the hinges and other hardware to let them operate smoothly. 
  • You should also lubricate the wheels of the door and the track to avoid friction
  • You should not use oil based lubricants, rather use silicone based or dry graphite lubricants.

Adjust alignment

You can install the bifolding doors yourself, however it would be highly recommended to get professionals’ help. It will ensure that your doors are installed and aligned properly. However, these doors can become misaligned over time due to use and weather conditions. This misalignment will lead to reduced function and door life.

  • You should regularly check the doors to observe if there is any misalignment.
  • To do this, close the doors and check are door’s alingment. 
  • You can align the doors yourself and if its tricky, call a profesional.
  • Normaly, using a screwdriver, you can tighten the screws and it will align the doors.
  • Make sure that you do not tighten the screws too much to prevent any problem.

Monitor weather seals

Weather seals are used in these doors to keep the dust and moisture from getting inside the rooms. These weather seals are prone to damage and need to be maintained periodically. 

  • Inspect the seal regularly to check any damage or tear in it..
  • Close the doors to check if there is any gap between the frame and weather seal.
  • If you find any damage or gap, make sure to replace the weather seals immediately.

Address issues promptly

Installing a bifold door requires regular and careful maintenance to make sure these work for a long time. It not only ensures a smooth operation but also helps to make these doors look new for a long period of time. To make it happen, you need to inspect the doors regularly and address any issue promptly. If you do not address any issue on time, it can worsen the damage over time. Later, the repair or fixes may cost you more. 

FAQs

How frequently should I clean my bifold doors?

You should clean your bifolding doors depending on the environment type you live in. If you live close to the sea, it would be recommended to clean once a week to remove salt deposition. However, if there is dust in your environment, then schedule the cleaning twice or thrice a week. 

Is it necessary to clean the tracks of bifold doors?

Small stones, dust, leaves, and debris, etc. can get accumulated in the tracks of these doors. These accumulations not only cause friction to doors but can also damage the mechanism. 

Conclusion 

You should regularly clean the doors, lubricate the hinges and tracks to ensure a smooth function. Addressing any issue promptly will help you to resolve any issues on time and also save on repairing costs. However, if there is any major issue, you should get bifold door servicing from professionals.

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