Garage Door Maintenance Tips: How To Keep Your Garage Door Running Smoothly

Our daily routines often start and end with the garage, from driving out in the morning and returning through it at night. Despite being one of the most frequently used entryways, garage doors are often overlooked for maintenance and upkeep. Given their large size and electric mechanisms, regular garage door maintenance service is key to keeping them running smoothly and avoiding expensive repairs later on.

Routine upkeep helps extend the lifespan of your door, increases safety, and keeps your garage door system operating efficiently. Whether you have a manual or automatic door, following a consistent maintenance routine is key to avoiding unexpected breakdowns.

Regularly Check and Tighten Garage Door Hardware

Think about it: Your garage doors move up and down multiple times a day and the constant movement of a garage door can loosen its hardware over time. Checking for loose bolts, brackets, and fasteners should be part of your regular overhead garage door maintenance routine.

What to do: Using a socket wrench, tighten all bolts and brackets on the door and track.

Why it matters: Loose hardware can cause the garage door to become misaligned or noisy, potentially leading to bigger problems if left unattended.

Check and Recalibrate the Door's Balance

Just like everything in life, keeping your garage door balanced is a simple yet crucial part of garage door maintenance service. An imbalanced garage door can put extra strain on the opener, causing it to work harder and wear out faster.

What to do: Disconnect the opener by pulling the release handle. Manually lift the garage door halfway and let go. If the door stays in place, it's balanced. If it moves, you may need to adjust the springs.

Why it matters: A properly balanced door ensures that the opener doesn't have to overwork itself, which prolongs its lifespan and helps prevent breakdowns.

If you notice an issue with balance, don't attempt to recalibrate it yourself. Contact a professional at Balanced Garage Doors for help adjusting and fixing the springs safely.

Clean and Lubricate Moving Parts Like Rollers

If you hear metal squeaks, groans, scratches, or crunches, your garage door is trying to tell you something. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to service garage doors is maintaining proper cleanliness and lubrication. Over time, moving parts such as rollers, hinges, and tracks can wear down if not lubricated and greased regularly.

What to do: Inspect the rollers for signs of wear, rust, or damage. Clean them regularly to remove any dirt or debris, and lubricate them to ensure smooth movement. If the rollers are worn or cracked, replace them. Apply a high-quality lithium grease or silicon spray to the rollers, hinges, and tracks. Avoid using heavy oils, which can attract dust and dirt.

Why it matters: Keeping the rollers in good condition helps prevent jerky movements and noisy operation, and a pricey repair. Lubrication reduces friction and helps the garage door operate quietly while preventing wear on the moving parts.

Examine and Replace Weatherstripping if Needed

A safe garage is a sealed garage. Weatherstripping is the process of sealing openings in your garage from the waters and elements from outside. Sealing your garage plays a vital role in how to maintain garage doors and the energy efficiency of your home.

What to do: Inspect the weatherstripping along the bottom of the door and the sides. If you see any cracks or signs of wear, replace it with new weatherstripping.

Why it matters: Replacing worn weatherstripping helps protect your garage and home from the elements, preventing water damage and improving insulation.

Evaluate and Test the Auto-Reverse Safety Feature

When your garage door detects something on the ground that may interfere with its closing, your garage door should automatically pause and reverse itself back up. A critical safety component of any automatic garage door, the auto-reverse feature functions to prevent injuries and damage.

What to do: Place an object (like a block of wood) under the door and close it. The door should reverse upon contact with the object. If it doesn't, the auto-reverse feature may need adjustment or repair.

Why it matters: Ensuring the auto-reverse function works properly is key to keeping your family and property safe.

Maintain and Check the Cables for Wear and Tear

Another important component of your garage door's lifting system are the cables which hold it in place. While it's best to leave cable repairs to professionals, regular garage door maintenance service inspections can help you catch signs of wear before they lead to a serious issue.

What to do: Look for fraying or broken strands along the cables. If you notice any damage, call a garage door technician for immediate repairs.

Why it matters: Faulty cables can lead to dangerous malfunctions, putting your safety at risk.

Balanced Garage Doors Can Help Keep Your Garage Doors As Good As New

The days of sticking doors, noisy openings, and frustrating repairs are over. Extend the life of your garage door and guarantee it operates smoothly year-round with Balanced Garage Doors.

Schedule a professional maintenance checkup today to keep your garage door in optimal condition.