Garage Door Tune-Up and Maintenance

What a Good Tune-Up Covers

• Lubricating the rollers, hinges, springs, bearings and the cables where they wrap the drums
• Tightening the hardware on the sections, tracks and opener mounts
• Checking the cables for fraying and the drums for cracks
• Looking at the springs for rust, gaps and wear
• Testing the balance with the opener disconnected
• Checking the sensors and testing that the door reverses when it should
• Looking at the bottom seal and side weatherstrip
• Resetting the opener's force and travel after any adjustments

Ask what's included before you book. Some companies quote a low tune-up price, then add charges for each part. Others include a set list. Both are fine if you know up front.

Warning Signs Between Tune-Ups

Call sooner if you notice any of these:

• A new noise, especially grinding or a pop
• The door moves slowly or in jerks
• It reverses for no reason
• One side sits lower than the other
• Frayed cables, rusty springs or chipped rollers
• The remote or wall button acting up

What You Can Do Yourself

Spray garage door lubricant on the roller bearings and hinge pivots every few months if the door gets heavy use. Keep the tracks clean, but don't grease them.

Wipe the sensor lenses after pollen season and check that both sensor lights glow steady. Once a month, put a roll of paper towels on the floor under the door and close it. The door should touch the roll and go back up.

Leave the springs, cables and bottom brackets alone. Those are always for a technician.

Weather and Your Door

Durham's humid summers wash out lubricant and rust light hardware. Heat can also make an older opener struggle. In winter, an ice storm can glue the bottom seal to the slab. Free it gently before running the opener.

A tune-up in early spring, after the cold and before the pollen, works well for many homeowners here.

Warranties Need Records

Many door and opener warranties expect regular maintenance. Keep your receipts. A warranty from the maker covers defects in the product, and the installer's warranty covers the work. Skipping maintenance or doing your own spring work can void them.

Book a tune-up by sending the form or calling (919) 555-0136. If you already hear trouble, see the noisy door page or rollers and hinges. If the door feels heavy, read about springs.