Why Would My Garage Door Need Service?

By Tony Hall

The average home needs a fair amount of maintenance and upkeep throughout the year. There is a lot of ground to cover, especially if you primarily rely on DIY solutions. It's no surprise that certain areas of the home may be neglected in favor of managing bigger priorities on the to-do list.

One of the last items on everyone's list is their garage door. This can be a costly oversight, so make sure to have it serviced regularly.

A Garage Door Is Designed To Be Durable, So Why Does It Need To Be Serviced?

The door itself works on a spring-loaded system. These springs are what allow it to raise and lower. Over time, they can wear out, putting extra weight on the tracks and the opener. The additional wear and tear will cause the components to breakdown. If you have to replace both the tracks and the opener, it’ll cost you. Regular maintenance and professional servicing reduce the likelihood of needing a full replacement.

How Often Should A Garage Door Be Serviced?

You should setup up a service appointment at least once a year, preferably in the fall. The only other time this kind of appointment is necessary is if you are experiencing a specific problem.

A good yearly checkup on your door should include:

• lubricating the door springs, hinges, rollers, pulleys, and bearings
  
• adjusting the spring tension
  
• testing the safety features of the garage door opener
  
• inspecting the rollers, hinges and cables for defects/wear 

Additionally, all the screws and bolts should be tightened.

Can Some Of The Service Tasks Be Done By The Homeowner?

Yes, but it is still a good idea to have a professional come out and walk you through the typical maintenance steps.

You can handle a lot of the bolt tightening and lubrication on your own. If any hinges are damaged, look on the face of the hinge and you will see a number. Replace the damaged hinges with ones that have the same number. Pay very close attention to a couple of things:

1. Always pull the emergency release rope before working on your garage door. This will disconnect the opener and allow you to lift the door manually.
   
2. If the bottom brackets of the door are damaged, do not replace them on your own.

This may seem like a tempting idea, but the cable inside the brackets is under extreme tension. Make a wrong move and you will have to replace the entire door. Call a professional if these brackets get damaged.

Willow Creek Overhead Door can service your garage door in Amarillo and the surrounding area and even add upgrades like keyless entry and additional remotes.

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