Your Monthly Garage Door Maintenance Guide

You use your garage door every day. To keep it in working order and get the most out of your system, you’ll need to implement regular maintenance practices. By investing a little time and effort each month, you’ll extend the lifespan of your garage door system and reduce the risk of any major malfunctions. Here’s your guide to monthly garage door maintenance. 

Visually Inspect

Begin by visually inspecting the system. Open the door using your motorized operator. While your door is opening, listen and look for any signs of trouble. The following conditions may be signs that your garage door needs to be repaired:

• Loud clanking, scraping, or noises of any kind
• Jerky movements
• Asymmetrical or uneven movement

These telltale signs often signal a problem before it begins to affect your use of the door. Paying attention to the way your garage door system operates can help you identify and address malfunctions before they prevent your system from working entirely. Your garage door should move with little to no sound and open and close at a smooth, even speed.

Lubricate Moving Parts

Friction is the enemy of your garage door system, so combat this detriment with lubricant. The number of times you’ll have to apply lubricant throughout the year will depend on the environmental conditions of your home, but it’s prudent to check the lubrication of your system each month. The colder and dryer the air is in your garage, the more often you’ll need to apply lubricant. Before you apply a lubricant, wipe the rollers, tracks, and hinges with a clean rag and remove any rust. By keeping your garage door system properly lubricated, you’ll reduce the wear and tear it undergoes, extending its lifespan.

Tighten Hardware

It’s likely that your garage door is opened and closed several times a day. Over time, the movement and vibration caused by the garage door cycle will begin to loosen hardware throughout the system. You can combat this by doing a once-over during your monthly maintenance regimen and tightening all sockets, bolts, and screws. This will help keep your system in alignment and prevent hardware from coming apart. 

Check Cables, Rollers, and Springs

Even if you don’t want to replace or repair your garage door system on your own, it’s important to monitor these essential mechanisms so you can alert a professional if they are in disrepair. Identify, inspect, and schedule necessary maintenance for the following parts: 

Cables

The pulley system of your garage door relies on the cables that run along the sides of your garage door. If a cable is worn or damaged, contact a garage door professional to have it replaced.

Rollers

You’ll find these attached to the sides of your garage door. They enable your door to move along the tracks during a cycle. If a roller is broken or worn, it will need to be replaced.

Springs

A highly dangerous portion of your garage door system, springs require attention from a professional garage door technician. The springs are located along the top of your garage door system, parallel to the ground.

Test the System

Once you have performed the above maintenance on your garage door system, it's helpful to test the system in the following two ways. Doing so will give you even better insight into how your system is operating and help you determine whether professional repair is necessary.

Auto Reverse

To test your garage door's auto-reverse safety feature, open the door and place a block of wood or brick in the way of its path. Close the door. As soon as it touches the object, the door should reverse. To test the photo-eye portion of your system, open the door. Close the door, and as the door is closing, wave your hand or foot in front of the photo-eye. The door should immediately reverse. If your door fails either of these tests, you'll need to adjust your system or have a garage door technician do it for you.

Balance

With the garage door closed, release your garage door from your automatic opener by pulling on the red cord attached to the motor. Try to open the door; you should be able to manage it with little to no resistance. Lift the door up so that it's about three feet above the ground. If it is balanced, it should stay open. If it closes, the door needs to be adjusted by a garage door technician.

If your garage door needs to be repaired or replaced, contact Doors by George. Our team of garage door professionals can help you maintain your system year round. From minor adjustments to complete door replacements, we have all of your garage door needs covered. Request your quote today!