A Guide to Annual Garage Door Maintenance

Most people go out of their way to take care of their cars, electrical appliances, and homes, but when it comes to a garage door, most people don’t think about it until it’s too late. Poorly maintained garage doors can lead to accidents, injuries and delays. Because most modern garage doors operate automatically with openers, remote controls and require very little interaction from the homeowner. Like all technology these mechanical parts can fail and the best way to prevent failures is regular maintenance.

How Often Should I Perform Garage Door Inspection and Maintenance?

A Yearly 12 Point Garage Door Inspection Process Is Critical

The first step in maintaining your garage door is the inspection. A well trained technician will conduct a thorough 12 point inspection covering every part of the garage door. Therefore, inspection of all hardware and garage door parts will include rollers, tracks, brackets, cables, springs, pulleys, hinges, bearings, light bulbs and openers. We test the auto-reverse safety features both mechanical and photocell. We will identify any squeaking, creaking, or obnoxious sounds that could be easily missed and cause expensive repairs down the road. Inspecting each part for wear and tear now can save you lots of money preventing breakage which can cause much worse problems.

To learn more about garage door safety, visit Door and Access System Manufacturers Association.

What is a 12 point garage door safety inspection?

These are the 12 items we check in our safety inspection.

1. Rollers

2. Drums

3. Cables

4. Check for loose nuts, bolts, screws and lags

5. Vinyl weatherstripping for tears and discoloring

6. Wall button sensitivity

7. Sensor stability and alignment

8. Lubrication

9. Travel limits

10. Rail assembly

11. Springs

12. Hinges

What is a 12 point garage door safety inspection?

As with any inspection sometimes we do find things that need to be fixed. However, believe it or not this is a good thing. It’s always better to find the problems before you get stuck in the garage. Some of the common things we find in our garage door inspections which need to be replaced

Worn, Chipped or Cracked Rollers– The rollers used in garage doors typically need to be replaced about every 10 years or so depending on usage.
Weather-stripping– This one can easily be done by the homeowner but is definitely something we include in our inspections. When the weather-stripping gets worn out everything from cold or hot air all the way to dirt and debris can get into your garage. Replacing the weather-stripping can save energy and lower bills especially if your garage is insulated, heated and cooled.
Cables– The cables that lift your garage door can be very dangerous when they break and should only be replaced by a trained professional.

A Properly Balanced Garage Door Will Last Longer and Work Better

An important part of our 12 point garage door maintenance inspection is testing the balance. You can see if the balance is off by closing the door and detaching the automatic opener. After this, lift the door manually. Now, you should be able to lift the door smoothly and should face little resistance. If you have difficulty opening or lifting the garage door then your door could be out of balance. If your door is out of balance, get it serviced by one of our trained professionals as soon as possible.

Lubricating the Moving Parts of Your Garage Door and Opener

When it comes to maintaining a garage door, lubrication is essential. An effective and inexpensive way to lubricate a garage door is using engine oil. The areas we lubricate can include the rollers, springs, hinges and bearings. Prior to lubricating these parts we will clean them of debris preventing buildup which could damage your garage door. We always avoid lubricating the plastic or nylon rollers. Lubricating torsion springs can be very dangerous and should only be done by a professional. Torsion springs are under immense pressure and can easily cause bodily harm if not handled properly. We also avoid using grease to lubricate the garage door as this can attract dirt. Our experienced technicians know exactly what to lubricate and what not to lubricate no matter what garage door brand or model you have.

How Often Should I Clean My Garage Door?

You should clean your garage door at least twice per year to ensure that it functions properly. Cleaning the garage door and other moving parts can prevent debris from building up. Make sure to get deep into the corners to prevent buildup that can prevent the door from easily opening and closing. Letting dirt buildup in the edges and corners can add undue resistance to the springs and other mechanical components of the garage door. The tracks used to slide the garage door up and down can be cleaned with automotive break cleaner. You will want to make sure that there is no dirt or buildup in the tracks or at the base where the garage door sits most of the time.

12 Point Safety Inspection