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Garage Door Tune-Up: What to Check Every Year
Your garage door is the largest moving part of your home — and one of the most neglected. An annual tune-up takes about 30 minutes and can prevent a $500 repair or, worse, an injury. Here's what to check.
Visual Inspection
With the door closed, look at the springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys. You're looking for: frayed or broken cables, cracked or broken rollers, bent tracks, and springs that look stretched or have a gap in the coil (a sign of a broken spring). Never attempt to replace torsion springs yourself — they're under extreme tension and can cause serious injury. Call a pro for spring replacement.
Test the Balance
Disconnect the opener by pulling the red emergency release cord. Manually lift the door to waist height and let go. A properly balanced door should stay in place. If it falls or rises on its own, the springs need adjustment. An unbalanced door puts excessive strain on the opener motor and will shorten its life significantly.
Lubricate the Moving Parts
Use a garage door lubricant spray (not WD-40 — it's a degreaser, not a lubricant) on: the hinges, rollers (metal rollers only — not nylon), springs, and the bearing plates at each end of the torsion bar. Wipe off excess. Do not lubricate the tracks — the rollers need to grip the track, not slide on it.
Test the Safety Features
Test the auto-reverse: place a 2x4 flat on the ground in the door's path and close the door. It should reverse immediately upon contact. Test the photo-eye sensors: wave your foot through the beam while the door is closing — it should reverse. If either safety feature fails, don't use the door until it's repaired.
Check the Weatherstripping
The rubber seal at the bottom of the door keeps out water, pests, and drafts. If it's cracked, torn, or compressed flat, replace it. Bottom seals are inexpensive and easy to replace — they slide into a channel on the bottom of the door. Also check the side and top seals for gaps.
We handle garage door tune-ups, weatherstripping, and minor repairs in Red Oak and Ellis County. Call (214) 872-7785 to schedule.
Call (214) 872-7785