To keep your garage door working smoothly, maintenance is a must. Maintenance extends the life of your garage door—while helping you avoid expensive garage door repair. We have provided a garage door inspection checklist for Texas homeowners to help keep your garage door functional for years to come.
Any repair that requires working with the torsion springs is extremely dangerous for anyone who is inexperience and untrained.
1. Perform the Door Balance Test
Unbalanced garage door = extra stress on parts
How to Do a Door Balance Test:
- Disconnect
garage door opener by pull on the emergency release cord hanging from the garage door open.
- Manually lift up the garage door up, only halfway, then let go. If the garage door goes down or up, then it is unbalance. If it is stays where you left it, then it’s perfectly balanced.
If unbalanced, contact a professional garage door technician. It is extremely dangerous for an inexperienced person to repair a unbalanced garage door.
2. Inspect Door Panels
Damage to the panels can affect the alignment of the garage door. Inspect for damaged panels for proper performance and insulation.
Check Panels for…
- Dents
- Cracks
- Rust
- Peeling paint
- Warping
3. Inspect the Weather Stripping
Proper weather stripping helps to keep garage insulated and pest out.
Check Weather Stripping for…
- Brittleness
- Crack
- Missing stripping/seal gaps
4. Lubricate Moving Parts
Lasting maintenance involves lubrication. A garage door lubricant helps to keep parts functional and working smoothly. It is important to use a silicone or lithium-based garage door lubricant—avoid WD-40.
Lubricate Garage Door Parts:
- Hinges
- Rollers
- Springs
- Bearings
5. Inspect the Cables and Springs
Any cables or springs repair should be performed by an experience professional. If you have any faulty springs or cable, do not try to perform a DIY project.
- Corrosion
- Rust
- Spring gapping
- Frayed cables
- Broken cables
6. Inspect Tracks
Misaligned garage door tracks can result in derailment, if the tracks have a bend or excessive debris.
Inspect Garage Door Tracks for…
- Rust
- Bends
- Warping
- Loose connections
For Maintenance:
- Clean out any debris
- Wipe down track with mild detergent and a damp cloth
7. Inspect Rollers
For preventative maintenance, it is recommended to replace garage door rollers around 7 years or earlier.
Inspect Garage Rollers for…
- Cracks
- Chips
- Out of track rollers
This quick checklist for a garage door inspection is a good preventative, though for a thorough inspection contact a professional. Have a question about your inspection? Give us a call at
A1 Affordable Garage Door Services to speak with a garage door specialist. Serving Dallas and surrounding areas like Addison, Carrollton, Frisco and more! Contact us today at 972-877-5774.
