Comprehensive Texas Garage Door Maintenance Checklist

Homeowners have a lot to think about when it comes to maintaining their property. From the roof to the foundation, proper home maintenance ensures that your home will last for years to come while maintaining its value. However, one of the most overlooked areas for maintenance is the garage door.

An important part of your home, the garage door acts as an exterior barrier as well as a second entrance into the home. Many homeowners use their garage to protect vehicles or as a workshop for precious lifetime projects, such as restoring old cars or motorcycles. No matter what you use the garage for, proper garage door maintenance is the only way to ensure the safety of your garage, the items inside, and your family. However, many homeowners, especially if this is their first home, are unsure where to start when it comes to maintenance.

The dedicated team of garage door repair specialists at Action Garage Door has created a comprehensive maintenance checklist to ensure that your Texas garage door looks great and doesn’t lead to unnecessary headaches. Here are the steps you need to take:

Step 1: Inspect the Operating System

Many homeowners use their garage as a second entrance into the home, meaning that it opens several times throughout the day. Every open and close cycle strains the system, leading to wear and tear. To ensure that your garage door system operates at its best, it should be checked at least twice a year. During inspection, you will want to do the following:

Visually Inspect Your Garage Door

Complete a visual inspection of your garage door during the spring and winter. Check for signs of fading, blistering, cracking, or peeling on the garage door. While only cosmetic damages, they do decrease the curb appeal of your garage door which can affect your home’s value.

If you notice more serious damage, such as dents or gaps in the weatherstripping, contact your local garage door specialist. Dents can lead to rusting or serious structural issues while gaps in the weatherstripping can cause moisture to build up in your garage, leading to mold growth.

Open and Close Your Garage Door

Your garage door should respond promptly when you use the remote or keypad to open it. As it runs, listen for any odd or loud noises. If you hear any of the following, contact a trusted garage door technician right away:

• Grinding
• Squeaking
• Rattling
• Squealing
• Slapping
• Vibrating
• Clunking
• Clinking
• Banging
• Straining
• Scraping
• Rumbling
• Rubbing
• Popping

Pay attention to how your garage door opens. If it is opening more slowly than usual or isn’t responding, then you will need to contact a repair technician to repair it.

Test the Door Balance

You can check the balance of your garage door by pulling the release handle on the garage door opener. Lift the door manually until it is halfway open. If the door doesn’t stay up, it is off balance and needs to be readjusted. An off-balance garage door puts extra strain on the automatic garage door opener, which can result in it needing replacement sooner.

Inspect the Weatherstripping

The seals around your garage door, also known as the weatherstripping, protect your garage from outside moisture and keep conditioned air from escaping. Not only does this help prevent rust from building up on your garage door components, but it also helps keep energy costs low. 

When inspecting the weatherstripping, make sure to check the door’s top and sides for sides of tears or rips. If you notice damage on the weatherstripping, a garage door repair specialist will be able to help you replace it.

Step 2: Inspect the Moving Parts

Garage doors have many moving parts that have to work in harmony to run smoothly. When doing an inspection, closely examine all the metal parts for damage. If any of these parts are damaged, get them repaired or replaced as soon as possible to ensure the door doesn’t suffer further damage.

• Rollers: The rollers run along the edge of your garage door. Check them and the top and bottom brackets that hold them in place for chips or cracks.
• Cables and pulleys: If you notice any rips or damage to the cable and pulleys of your garage door, DO NOT mess with them. These parts are under a lot of pressure and unskilled hands working on them can result in serious injury. Only a trusted professional should handle damaged cables and pulleys.
• End-bearing plates: The end-bearing plates, placed at each end of the spring bar, allow the spring bar to move as it operates. Check for signs of rust, damage, and that the plates are still tight and not loose.
• Spring bar: The spring bar holds the springs and rotates the garage door as it opens and closes. Inspect the spring bar for bending or rust. If you notice any signs of damage, call a garage door technician to get it replaced.
• Hinges: The hinges keep overhead garage door panels together and allow them to bend as they operate. Make sure you inspect the hinges for signs of excessive wear or damage.
• Vertical tracks: The tracking system can bend over time due to the strain, negatively affecting the way your garage door glides on it. If the tracks are making it difficult for your garage door to open or close, they need to be repaired or replaced.
• Horizontal tracks: The garage door rests on the horizontal tracks when it is fully open. Over time, the strain can cause the horizontal tracks to bend or rust. If you notice this happening, get them replaced immediately.
• Jamb brackets: The jamb brackets connect the vertical tracks to the framework on either side of the garage door opening. During your visual inspection, check to see if the jamb brackets are in the correct position and are free from dents.
• Strut: The strut mounted at the top of the garage door opening supports the garage door structure. Make sure it is free of damage to ensure that the garage door doesn’t become loose or encounter difficulty as it opens or closes.

Step 3: Test the Auto-Reversal Feature

A safety feature, auto-reversal opens the garage door if it senses an object in its path as it is closing. This feature is extremely important for the safety of your family and valuables. Issues such as dirt on the photo-eyes or improper alignment can cause this feature to not work properly. Here is how you can test this feature to ensure that it is working well.

• Test the photo-eyes: The photo-eye sensors can become obstructed by dirt or debris, which can affect their ability to work properly. You can check to see if they are working by waving an object, like a broom, in front of the beam. If the garage door reverses as it is closing, then they are working correctly. If it continues to close, this means that either the photo-eyes are out of alignment or may need to be replaced.
• Clean the photo-eyes: Clean your garage door’s photo-eyes regularly to ensure that small dust particles are not triggering the photo-eye, preventing your garage door from closing. Use a soft dry cloth to remove dust from the photo-eye and then test the door again by putting an object in its path.
• Keep objects away from your garage door: As mentioned earlier, any items near your garage door can cause the photo-eyes to sense them and trigger, resulting in your garage door not closing properly. Keep your belongings away from the garage door to keep it functioning properly.

Step 4: Check Your Garage Door Opener

A faulty garage door opener is not only a headache, but it can also increase your energy bill and put added stress on your garage door. To ensure that your garage door opener is working properly, you will need to do the following:

• Test the batteries on the garage door remote: Use the remote to open your garage door. If it doesn’t respond to the remote, try replacing the batteries and then check again.
• Test the backup batteries: The garage door opener has a backup battery system in place in case your home loses power. To ensure the backup batteries work, unplug the opener and then try opening the door automatically. If it doesn’t work, you need to replace the dead backup battery.
• Inspect the belt or chain: Check the belt and chain driver for signs of deterioration. If anything seems off, call a trusted garage door repair technician to check the problem.
• Check the wire coating: The garage door has several wires that connect it to the garage door opener. Visually inspect them for signs of tears or cracks. 

Step 5: Clean Your Garage Door

Dirt is not only unsightly on your garage door, but it can also cover areas of damage. You will want to clean your garage door regularly to remove debris and stains. Make sure to also wipe off the grime in the interior parts of the garage door to ensure that they are not being bogged down. Here is a list of the parts that you will want to give some attention to:

• The tracks
• The windows of your garage door (if they have them)
• The outside of your garage door

Step 6: Lubricate Your Garage Door Moving Parts

Keeping your garage door parts lubricated is one of the most important steps to keep it running smoothly. Use a high-quality silicone or lithium-based lubricant to grease the moving parts. These parts are as follows:

• Rollers
• Hinges
• Springs

Do not use generic lubricants, like WD-40, as they can trap dust, leading to more serious problems.

What Are the Benefits of Garage Door Maintenance?

There are a ton of benefits to keeping your garage door well-maintained. These benefits include:

Protecting Yourself and Your Family

A faulty garage door is a safety hazard for everyone in your household. When a garage door malfunctions, it can potentially close on a vehicle or a person. It may close suddenly or fail to open completely as expected. Regardless, danger is present. By getting your garage door inspected in a timely fashion, you can at least make sure that any issues are not harmful. A garage door professional will be able to tell you if you can wait for a repair or if it has to be done immediately.

Avoiding Poorly Timed Repairs

When your garage door suddenly breaks down, you’ll often have no choice but to get a technician. Not only will this be more expensive, but it will also be extremely inconvenient. If you call a repair service early on, you’ll be able to schedule it at your leisure and tackle the issue before it becomes worse. You can avoid missing work, having to track down available garage door service companies, and having to wait for repair technicians to arrive.

Reducing Your Costs

The worse your garage door issues become, the more expensive they will be to repair. If you have a broken garage door mechanism, it will slowly degrade and become worse. Rather than being a simple fix, you might need to replace the entire mechanism or the entire door. Your garage door could even cause damage to your car, which could be costly to repair. Routine garage door maintenance can help prevent expensive door issues from occurring at all.

Call Your Trusted Texas Garage Door Technician

Routine upkeep of your garage door is essential for extending its life and maintaining its value. Action Garage Door Repair Specialists offer scheduled maintenance services for your garage door. Focus on what matters most to you while we ensure your garage door runs flawlessly by spotting and handling potential issues before they happen. We won’t let an avoidable breakdown slow you or your family down. Contact our technicians today for more information on our maintenance services or to schedule an appointment! 

Additional Resources:

• Garage Door Makeover: Transforming Your Home’s Exterior
• Common Problems with Automatic Garage Doors
• Proper Garage Door Maintenance
• What Happens if I Lose My Garage Door Opener Remote?
• How and How Often to Perform a Garage Door Safety Test