For many reasons, a safe, functional, and efficient garage door is important. A working garage door can protect your family, house, and property from harm. If your garage door is not installed correctly, it may not run as efficiently as it should, which can also rack up your utility bills. To save money and ensure a safe environment for your loved ones, ask about our garage door installation and maintenance services for peace of mind. 

Why is Maintenance Important? 

Ideally, you should strive to have your garage door maintained at least once each year. Garage doors need periodic inspections to ensure they are working at their best, no matter what brand you have or how old the doors are. It’s essential to have your doors regularly serviced because key parts can wear out over time and eventually break, including the torsion springs, hinges, tracks, garage door opener, and other parts of the garage door. If you fail to maintain your garage door, you may end up with more serious issues later on. 

 Garage Door Safety Sensors 

Safety sensors are a critical part of any garage door. Sensors are even required by law in some states, including California, which has required sensors to be installed on garage doors since 1993. Sensors use infrared light beams to detect motion in their path. They are located about six inches above the garage door floor. If anything interrupts the beam of light, the sensors should stop the garage door from moving. However, if the sensors are broken, they won’t stop the garage door’s motion, resulting in property damage or severe injuries to loved ones. 

 What Does Garage Door Maintenance Include? 

When you contact us for a thorough garage door inspection, we’ll send a technician out to perform a 25-point inspection. With each maintenance visit, you can look forward to a thorough visual inspection, proper lubrication to help all parts move properly, and a door balancing test. 

The visual inspection that our technicians perform includes looking at the cables, springs, rollers, and pulleys. They will check to see if all those components are working correctly and if they need any repairs. The parts will also be replaced if they are found to be worn out for safe and effective use. If the components are all in sound condition, the next general step of a maintenance program is lubrication. One of our technicians will apply a silicone-based spray to all the necessary parts of your garage door. This will help reduce the amount of wear and tear on the garage door every time it is opened and closed. 

Finally, a technician will test the door in a door balance test to ensure it can be lifted without too much effort. If the door appears lopsided or a technician has trouble lifting it off the ground, we can make adjustments and repairs to the door as needed to ensure it works more smoothly and efficiently. 

Maintaining a Garage Door on Your Own 

While we can help look for issues following a garage door installation, there are some things you can look for as well to detect problems. Even without formal training in garage door repair, you can check for damaged pulleys, worn seals, and frayed cables. You can also try raising and lowering the garage door. When you do, watch and listen to the door. If you notice any strange noises or if the door doesn’t appear to operate correctly, something may be amiss. The garage door may be in need of repairs, or it may simply need some lubrication. 

 It’s also relatively easy to perform a garage door balance test. To do so:

1. Ensure the door is entirely closed before you start.
2. Pull down the red emergency cable.
3. Once the door has closed, open it halfway and release the cable. The door should not move up or down.

If it stays in place, you’ll know it is properly balanced. If the door makes unusual sounds or if its motion seems off, there is a good chance that it has a problem. If you notice strange symptoms, contact a repair professional as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.