Your overhead garage door is one of the hardest-working components of your home, enduring daily wear and tear as it opens and closes thousands of times each year. When well-maintained, it provides seamless convenience, security, and safety. But a neglected door can become noisy, unreliable, and even dangerous, particularly for children or pets. Regularly tuning up your garage door is essential to keeping it in safe, reliable working order.
At 24-7 Garage Doors, we specialize in providing professional garage door tune-ups, ensuring that your door functions quietly, smoothly, and safely year-round. However, there are also a few simple steps you can take on your own to maintain your door between professional services.
Here’s your guide to performing a basic garage door tune-up, including tips on inspecting your opener, springs, and cables.
Step 1: Start With a Visual Inspection
Begin by taking a good look at your garage door. Check for any visible signs of wear or damage:
- Door Panels: Look for cracks, warping, or dents that might affect the door’s operation.
- Tracks: Ensure the tracks on both sides of the door are free from debris and properly aligned.
- Rollers: Examine the rollers for signs of wear or breakage.
- Hinges and Bolts: Tighten any loose hardware to prevent further damage or misalignment.
If you spot any serious damage, such as broken panels or cables, it’s best to call a professional for repairs.
Step 2: Lubricate Moving Parts
Lubricating the moving parts of your garage door is one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep it running smoothly and quietly:
- Hinges: Apply a small amount of lubricant to the hinges to keep them moving easily.
- Rollers: Use a silicone-based lubricant on the rollers to reduce friction and minimize wear.
- Springs and Cables: While you can apply lubricant to torsion or extension springs to help reduce squeaking, avoid working directly with the springs and cables yourself. These components are under high tension and can be extremely dangerous to repair without professional expertise.
For regular maintenance, we recommend lubricating your door’s moving parts every six months.
Step 3: Test the Balance of Your Door
A properly balanced garage door will extend the life of the opener and ensure safer operation. To test the balance:
- Disconnect the automatic opener by pulling the release handle.
- Manually lift the door halfway. A well-balanced door should stay in place without your help. If the door falls or rises quickly, it’s a sign that the springs are not balanced properly.
Important: Never attempt to adjust the springs yourself. Garage door springs—whether torsion or extension—are under high tension and require professional tools and expertise to handle safely. If your door is unbalanced, call a professional to adjust the springs.
Step 4: Inspect and Test the Auto-Reverse Feature
The auto-reverse feature is crucial for the safety of your family and pets. To test this:
- Mechanical Test: Place a sturdy object like a brick or a piece of wood in the path of the door. When the door touches the object, it should automatically reverse direction. If it doesn’t, this safety feature needs adjustment or repair.
- Photoelectric Sensors: These sensors are located near the floor on either side of the door. Wave your hand in front of the sensors while the door is closing. The door should stop and reverse immediately.
If the auto-reverse function or sensors aren’t working correctly, this is another sign that professional maintenance is needed.
Step 5: Clean and Adjust the Weather Stripping
The weather stripping on the bottom of your garage door helps keep out water, debris, and pests while also providing insulation. Check the weather stripping for cracks or damage and replace it if necessary.
Why Choose 24-7 Garage Doors for Your Tune-Up?
While these simple DIY steps can help extend the life of your garage door, some repairs—such as garage door spring repairs, cable repairs, and garage door opener adjustments—are best left to the professionals. At 2-/7 Garage Doors, we offer expert garage door tune-ups that include a full inspection, lubrication, and adjustments to ensure everything works safely and quietly.
Our team is highly experienced in working with both torsion and extension spring systems, ensuring that your garage door is balanced and functioning efficiently. We also install containment cables for added safety, especially for homes with kids or pets, preventing dangerous accidents if a spring breaks.
Schedule Your Garage Door Tune-Up Today
Keeping your garage door in top condition is essential for safety and reliability. By scheduling regular maintenance with 24/7 Garage Doors, you can avoid costly repairs and enjoy a quiet, smoothly operating door.
