How Often Do Garage Doors Need Maintenance?

Garage doors of one kind or another have been around for centuries. At one point, they secured the entrance to structures used to house carriages. Now, as has been the case since the late 19^th century, their primary function is to guard an attached or detached building where people store their cars. The technology which makes them possible has, of course, evolved over time, but the key purpose of a garage door remains unchanged.

As with anything mechanically or electrically powered, a garage door will need occasional inspection and even work by a professional garage door repair team to make sure it is working properly and safely. Unfortunately, many homeowners may not decide to call for professional garage door repair services until something goes wrong.

Our advice is simple: Call sooner, rather than later! But the question remains.

How Often Do Garage Doors Need Maintenance?

If you call and speak with one of our garage door repair specialists, he or she will tell you it is advisable to service your garage door twice a year. With prompt response times and affordable services, our team can help you meet the twice-a-year goal with little or no effort. In fact, we can schedule follow-up or regular maintenance appointments in advance, just as you would do for twice-yearly dental or health exams.

Ideally, these seasonal garage door maintenance exams should be performed by professionals in the Fall (to prepare for the winter) and in the spring (to prepare for the summer). This makes the most sense, given the fact your garage can be buffeted by severe weather extremes during either of those seasons.

A garage door is normally the largest moving part in any home and may be open or closed several times a day, every day, regardless of the hour or season. In other words, your garage door could be fully raised or lowered thousands of times each year. With proper maintenance, your garage door could operate smoothly for decades, but only if you care to perform regular maintenance and preventive care.

Fix Garage Door Issues on Your Own

Before we go into specifics, please remember that garage doors can weigh hundreds of pounds and feature high-pressure torsion springs which are dangerous. If a garage door falls or torsion spring flies loose, either could result in damage to personal property or serious physical harm. It is for this reason that you should call a garage door repair company if you have any doubts about what work needs to be done. Now, here are some things that most homeowners can probably handle on their own.

• Does Anything Look or Sound Funny? - Something obviously wrong with your garage door can usually be seen or heard, so pay attention every time you open or close it. Are there scraping noises? Does the door appear to be off-center?
• Tighten Up the Hardware - Because the average garage door opens and closes more than a thousand times a year, constant movement and vibration can loosen hardware. If need be, look at and tighten all roller brackets and bolts with a wrench.
• Test the Garage Door Balance - You can test your garage door balance by pulling the release handle and disconnecting the opener. Afterward, you can manually raise the door about halfway up. If it falls back down, the springs which act as counterweight are improperly balanced. Adjusting garage door springs is best left to a garage door repair company.
• Inspect and Replace the Rollers - Similarly, to door springs, the rollers, whether nylon or steel, should be inspected twice a year and replaced about every seven years by trained professionals, and even more if your garage door is used more frequently.
• Do You Feel a Draft in the Garage During Cold Weather? - If the rubber weather seal along the bottom of the door is cracked or brittle, replace it promptly to keep the elements out of your house. Weatherstripping is sold by physical and online retailers, but you should know the door dimensions before making any purchases. The product should include installation instructions, or videos may be available from the manufacturer or a DIY enthusiast.
• Lubricate Moving Parts - This is a no-brainer. A squeak does not always mean a part is ready to break, but using lithium grease on the opener’s chain or screw takes about 10 minutes every year and will keep the door operating smoothly year to year. A spray lubricant can be used on the overhead springs.
• What About the Cables? - If your door cables have broken strands or damage by the bottom roller bracket, call a professional. High-tension cables are dangerous and can cause serious bodily damage or death if they fly off.
• Test the Auto-Reverse Safety Features - This can be accomplished by placing a brick or piece of wood on the ground on the door threshold. This will test the photocell sensor on either side of the door, as well as the mechanical automatic reversal feature of the door opener. Garage doors and openers older than 20 years may lack such basic safety features, meaning it is time to price-shop for a new door.

Call a Parker Garage Door Repair Specialist

Your eyes and ears are your first line of defense in determining if your garage door needs maintenance, so care for yours and give it the attention it craves. The professionals at A Better Garage Door offer quality maintenance and repairs at affordable prices. To learn more about our garage door service team or to schedule an at-home inspection, call 303-920-2267.