Once a month, look over the door, lift it by hand with the opener disconnected, and test the auto-reverse and the photo eyes. Lubricate only the parts your manual names. Once a year, have a trained technician inspect the springs, cables and brackets. Never adjust a spring, a cable or a bottom bracket yourself.
1How often should a garage door be serviced?
DASMA, the door industry association, tells owners to make a monthly inspection and test part of the routine, and to book an annual visit from a trained door systems technician. The monthly work below takes about ten minutes and needs no tools.
We write this for Texas homes, but the steps are the same anywhere. We found no source that changes the schedule by region, so use the intervals below and follow your door and opener manuals.
2Every month: look
- Close the door, then pull the red release handle to disconnect the opener.
- Look at the hinges, rollers, springs and panels for wear, gaps or damage.
- Check that the photo eyes sit no higher than 6 inches from the floor.
- Look at the cables for fraying, without touching the brackets or the spring.
- Check the bottom seal for splits. See bottom seal replacement.
3Every month: test
Lift the door by hand
With the opener disconnected, raise and lower the door using the handles. It should move freely.
Check the balance
A balanced door stays partly open 3 to 4 feet above the floor. If it drops or rises, stop and call a technician.
Reconnect and test auto-reverse
Lay a 2x4 board flat in the door's path and close the door. It should stop on contact and reverse.
Test the photo eyes
Wave an object in front of the sensor while the door closes. The door should not close unless you hold the wall button.
If the door is heavy, crooked, does not reverse or does not balance, stop using the opener. Do not adjust the springs, cables or bottom brackets. They are under high tension. Call a trained technician; see spring repair.
4Lubrication and noise
DASMA says squeaks are often normal wear and that a spray-on lubricant made for garage doors can quiet noisy parts. It also says to check your owner's manual for what to lubricate, and that if the noise continues a professional should look at it. Do not spray the belt of a belt-drive opener or any part the manual does not list.
5What you do and what a technician does
| Task | You | Technician |
|---|---|---|
| Visual check and lift test | Yes, monthly | At the annual visit |
| Auto-reverse and photo eye test | Yes, monthly | Checks and adjusts |
| Lubricating listed parts | Yes, per the manual | Yes |
| Springs, cables, bottom brackets | Never | Yes |
| Opener sensitivity and limit settings | Manual only | Yes |
DASMA says springs, cables and brackets are for trained technicians only.
6Our annual visit
Our 12-point safety inspection is $89. It checks springs, cables, rollers, tracks, sensors and the opener. If a part needs work, we list it with the price before we start. See garage door repair for what we repair.
7Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Texas, including Plano, Grand Prairie and Arlington. Call or send your details and we book the soonest visit.
Questions people ask
How often should a garage door be serviced?
Check and test it monthly yourself, and have a trained technician inspect it once a year, according to DASMA.
What should I lubricate on a garage door?
Check the manual first. DASMA says a spray-on lubricant made for garage doors can quiet squeaky parts. If the noise continues, have a professional look at it.
Can I adjust my garage door springs?
No. Springs are under high tension. Only a trained technician should adjust springs, cables or bottom brackets.
What does a 12-point safety inspection cost?
Our approved price is $89. It covers springs, cables, rollers, tracks, sensors and the opener.
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