Care guide
Garage door maintenance checklist
Ten minutes a month and a short tune-up twice a year keep a garage door quiet, safe and lasting longer. Here's the checklist we'd give our own family, plus the jobs to leave to a technician.
Every month (5 minutes)
- Watch and listen. Run the door and look for jerky movement, one side lagging, or new noises.
- Reverse test. Lay a 2x4 flat under the middle of the door and close it. It should reverse as soon as it touches the board.
- Sensor test. While the door closes, pass a broom through the sensor beam. The door should go back up.
- Look at the springs and cables. Gaps in a coil, frayed cables or a cable loose on its drum mean stop and call.
Twice a year (20 minutes)
- Balance test. Pull the red emergency release with the door closed, lift the door by hand about halfway and let go. A balanced door stays roughly in place. If it drops or shoots up, the springs need adjusting, which is a technician's job.
- Lubricate hinges, roller bearings, springs and spring-bar bearings with a garage door lubricant. Keep it out of the tracks. Full steps are in noisy garage door.
- Tighten hardware. Snug the hinge and track bolts. Never loosen the bottom brackets: they hold the cables, which are under spring tension.
- Clean the tracks with a dry cloth. Check that they're straight, with no dents.
- Check the rollers. Cracked, chipped or wobbly rollers should be replaced.
- Check the bottom seal. A cracked or torn seal lets in water, leaves and mice. Retainers and seals can be replaced without replacing the door.
- Opener. Replace the backup battery if it's a few years old, test the remotes and keypad, and make sure the auto-reverse still works after any adjustment.
- Wash the door, and touch up scratches on steel doors to prevent rust, especially near the bay.
Questions
How often should a garage door be serviced?
Do the monthly safety tests yourself and a lubrication and hardware check twice a year. A professional tune-up every year or two catches spring and cable wear early.
How do I know if my garage door is balanced?
Disconnect the opener, lift the door halfway by hand and let go. If it stays put, it's balanced. If it falls or rises, the springs need adjusting.
What should I not do when maintaining a garage door?
Don't adjust springs, loosen bottom brackets, grease the tracks, or bypass the safety sensors.