10 DIY Tips for Garage Door Maintenance
Taking proper care of your garage door is essential.
When you think about it, there’s a lot that can go wrong with your garage door. It can refuse to open, leaving your vehicle trapped in your garage or forcing you to park outside. It can refuse to close, leaving your home vulnerable to theft. In the worst cases, a malfunctioning garage door can cause severe injuries or even death.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take as a regular homeowner to maintain your garage door and keep it in good shape. We’ll walk you through these steps.
Ready to service your garage door?
How to maintain your garage door: the quick version
Maybe you're one of those folks who learns by doing and would prefer a quick list of what maintenance tasks you need to do. You'll figure out exactly how to do them on your own. In that case, here's an overview of the rest of this article.
1. Look and listen to your garage door.
2. Inspect all moving parts.
3. Check and tighten screws and bolts.
4. Test your garage door's balance.
5. Apply lubrication.
6. Replace your weather seal.
7. Test the auto-reverse safety features.
8. Examine the door for wear and weathering.
9. Clean your garage door.
10. Add a coat of paint.
We'll provide more details on these steps in the following sections.
MAINTENANCE TIP #1: LOOK AND LISTEN TO YOUR GARAGE DOOR
You’ve probably heard the phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” With that in mind, take time to monitor your garage door whenever you open or close it. Does it go up and down fluidly or does it catch? Does the lift system (meaning the cables, pulleys, and springs) appear to be symmetrical from one side to the other? 1
Use your ears as well. Does your door seem quiet, or are you noticing screeching or grinding noises? How does the lift motor sound—is it struggling at all?
MAINTENANCE TIP #2: INSPECT ALL MOVING PARTS
Considering how heavy garage doors are and the part they play in a home's security, no one wants their door to fail. This means that it’s critical to inspect your door’s components for any signs of issues.
Every garage door has several moving elements, such as chains, rollers, and hinges, that you should periodically check. If any of these parts fail, the door won’t function properly. 2
If you do find damages to any of your door’s parts and need to replace them, The ROP Shop’s garage door parts are some of the best and most reliable that you can buy. Plus, you can take advantage of our bulk buying discount options and get a quote on larger quantities to save even more! Order spares ahead of time for extra convenience.
MAINTENANCE TIP #3: CHECK AND TIGHTEN SCREWS AND BOLTS
Hardware tends to loosen up and work its way outwards when it’s used continuously, no matter what it's secured to. However, most people don’t have the time for constant hardware maintenance. We get it. Just focus your attention on the key screws that, if ignored, can lead to complications.
If you’ve been noticing that your door has been noisier than usual, hardware (especially the parts connecting the motor to the ceiling) could be the culprit. Check and tighten all of the nuts and bolts to see if that fixes the problem. 2
MAINTENANCE TIP #4: TEST YOUR DOOR’S BALANCE
If your garage door doesn’t stay balanced, its longevity can decrease because the opener will have to work harder. If you think your door’s balance is off, you can test it. First, pull the release handle (which is typically a red cord) to disconnect your opener. Then manually position the door to be halfway open. If it won’t stay in place once you move away, then your counterweight system and springs are not balanced correctly. To remedy this issue, you’ll need to contact a professional. 1
MAINTENANCE TIP #5: APPLY LUBRICATION
This is one of our simplest maintenance tips, but it can have a significant impact on the life of a garage door. Greasing your door’s parts will help to reduce friction, and the less friction a door generates, the easier it is for the opener to function. Consequently, the motor will last longer. It's a good idea to grease all moving parts, including hinges, rollers, and pulleys—just be sure to do so with a lubricant that is formulated specifically for garage doors. 2
MAINTENANCE TIP #6: REPLACE YOUR WEATHER SEAL
If you want your garage door to successfully protect the interior from the elements, you have to keep the weather seal along your door’s bottom in good shape. If you notice cracks or brittleness, it’s time to replace it. 1
The ROP Shop's replacement rubber threshold weather seal comes in both 10’ and 16’ length options.
MAINTENANCE TIP #7: TEST YOUR GARAGE DOOR'S AUTO-REVERSE SAFETY FEATURES
Your door’s auto-reverse safety features use mechanical and photocell mechanisms to operate. You should test both systems. 1
For the mechanical aspect, put a piece of wood on the ground somewhere where it will block the door from closing (do NOT use a body part to test this). When you lower the door, it should automatically go back up after encountering the wood. 1
To check the photocell mechanism, you can quickly put your leg in the door’s path as it’s beginning to close. Don’t let your leg stay there—it just needs to be in your door’s path long enough to break the plane of the system’s beams. If the system is working, your door should go back up. 1
Doors that are more than 20 years old might not have these features, so don’t bother testing them; you’ll just want to replace the opener. 1
MAINTENANCE TIP #8: EXAMINE THE GARAGE DOOR ITSELF FOR WEAR AND WEATHERING
The exterior of your door has to endure a number of unpleasant weather conditions, so give it a thorough examination to make sure it’s still in good shape. If your door is wood, be sure to look for warping and water damage; steel doors might have rust spots that need to be cared for with sanding, primer, and paint. 1
MAINTENANCE TIP #9: CLEAN YOUR GARAGE DOOR
Have you ever thought about the role your garage door plays in your home’s appearance? It makes up a significant portion of your home’s exterior, and you should treat it accordingly. This means regular cleaning with a soap that’s friendly to your door’s surface. If your outer environment is particularly harsh on your door, you can also apply car wax a couple of times annually to preserve the finish. 2
MAINTENANCE TIP #10: PAINT YOUR DOOR REGULARLY
Even with the maintenance you’ve done in step nine, time and weather will wear on your garage door, and it will likely lose its brilliant color. Repaint it using weatherproof exterior paint every two to three years.
STAY ONE STEP AHEAD WITH YOUR GARAGE DOOR
Staying ahead of the repairs can help reduce their frequency and severity. The ROP Shop and Rugged U are committed to providing you with the best parts and information to make that a reality. We hope these garage door maintenance tips will help bring you many more years of a functional door.
Ready to turn your attention to the rest of your garage? Check out our blog on the steps to properly clean your garage.
Finally, if you notice issues with your garage door during your maintenance, our guide to garage door troubleshooting might come in handy.
[REVISED 3/2023]
Thinking about getting a pressure washer? Here are eight advantages to owning a pressure washer to help convince you.
Installing a new pressure washer pump doesn’t have to be a hassle. Let The ROP Shop walk you through it.