Garage Door Care & Maintenance
Why Professional Maintenance Matters
Just like your car, servicing and cleaning your garage door will increase its longevity and ensure it continues to operate safely day in and day out.
Both old and new garage doors and openers require professional maintenance. With all the wear and tear garage doors endure, from opening and closing multiple times a day to standing up to changing weather conditions, routine garage door maintenance can make all the difference.
Dominator’s garage doors and openers come with a comprehensive warranty, which requires following the maintenance guidelines in your owner’s handbook. To keep your warranty valid, schedule your first service within 12 months of installation and then every 2 years. Failure to do so may void your warranty.
A well-maintained garage door not only lasts longer but also works more quietly and reliably, reducing the chance of sudden breakdowns or costly repairs down the line. Plus, regular check-ups allow for early detection of any issues, helping you avoid bigger problems.
What to Expect from a Professional Garage Door Maintenance Service
- During a professional maintenance service, a technician will thoroughly check your garage door from top to bottom. Here’s what a typical service includes:
- Balance Check: Ensuring the door is balanced helps prevent wear on other parts, keeps the door running smoothly, and reduces stress on the motor.
- Safety Tests: Technicians will inspect essential safety features, like sensors and reverse mechanisms, to ensure your door is operating safely.
- Lubrication of Moving Parts: Parts like rollers, hinges, and springs are lubricated to prevent friction, reduce noise, and extend their lifespan.
- Hardware Tightening: Bolts, screws, and other hardware are tightened to keep everything secure and prevent issues from loose components.
- Weather Seal Inspection: The weather seal is checked for any damage or wear to ensure your garage is protected from drafts, moisture, and debris.
Signs Your Garage Door Needs Maintenance
It’s easy to overlook minor issues with your garage door until they start to get in the way of everyday use. Knowing the signs of when your door needs a bit of extra care can help you avoid unexpected breakdowns and keep your door running smoothly. Here are some common indicators that it’s time to schedule a maintenance check:
Loud or Unusual Noises
If you’re hearing squeaks, grinding, or banging sounds when your door opens or closes, it’s a sign that parts may need lubrication or tightening.
Slow Response Time or Jerky Movement
A garage door should move up and down smoothly. If it’s hesitating, jerking, or responding slowly, there could be an issue with the motor or tracks.
Sagging or Unbalanced Door
When a garage door isn’t balanced, it can put extra strain on the motor and parts. If you notice sagging or one side is higher than the other, a tune-up is likely in order.
Rust or Visible Wear on Cables and Springs
Rust, fraying, or any visible damage to cables and springs is a sign they need attention. Ignoring these issues can lead to more significant problems or even cause parts to break.
Difficulty Opening or Closing
If your door is sticking, not closing fully, or reversing unexpectedly, it’s time to have it looked at. These issues may indicate multiple underlying issues.
Our DIY Garage Door Care Tips
WARNING
- Never place your fingers between the panels of the door or near any moving parts while the door is operating either manually or automatically
- No person should ever stand or walk in the path of the door while the door is moving
- Never attempt to service or adjust the tension springs without the proper training
Cleaning your Garage Door
Zincalume® and COLORSTEEL® doors are coated with a silicone-modified polyester coating. While this coating is considered to be one of the best paints available, care must be taken to further slow the rate of corrosion.
Washing your garage door every 14 days with clean water and a cloth or a soft bristle brush is recommended. In more corrosive environments, it is recommended that you clean your garage door more frequently. Attention should be paid to areas unlikely to receive rain washing. Timber garage doors should be cleaned and treated as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. We recommend doing self-service checks every 3 to 6 months or with the change of seasons.
Maintaining your Garage Door
To check the operation of your garage door, turn the opener on manually before testing it. Using the handle, manually open and close the garage door. The effort needed to open and close the garage door should be about the same. If it is not the same, enquire about a professional service and spring tension adjustment.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST SPRINGS YOURSELF.
- If springs are accessible, wipe them using an oily cloth.
- Use a silicone spray on plastic hinges.
- Use silicone to lubricate steel hinges and axel bearings.
- Locks do not require maintenance; however, a spray lubricant may be used should the key become stiff enough to turn. You should not grease the locks.
- If you have a chain opener, lubricate the opener chain using chain lube.
- Check lifting cables for wear by running your fingers over them. If you feel any frayed areas or any signs of corrosion, contact a professional.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST LIFTING CABLES, AS THEY ARE UNDER EXTREME TENSION AND COULD CAUSE SEVERE HARM OR DAMAGE.
- Ensure all nuts, bolts, and screws are secure.
- For roller garage doors, use a cloth dampened with mineral turps or methylated spirits to clean the guide track’s internal sections. To allow the Nylofelt to glide easily, vigorously polish the internal sections of the tracks. GREASE OR OIL SHOULD NOT BE USED ON THE GUIDE TRACKS.
- For Sectional Garage Doors, DO NOT polish the internal guide tracks.
If you are unsure of any maintenance procedures, Dominator South & East Auckland is only a CALL or a CLICK away.
Learn more DIY garage door maintenance tips in our most recent blog post.
For any questions contact our support staff now