Garage Door Maintenance: How Often Should You Get It?

Whether your garage is connected to your home or you have a detached garage, it’s no surprise that keeping your garage door well-maintained is crucial for the safety of your property. Even though you may be using your garage door twice a day to get in and out of your home, this can add up over time, which will, in turn, cause garage door deterioration. If you’re wondering how often you should get garage door maintenance, our experts at Dodds Garage Doors have all of the insight on this topic.  

Keep on reading to find out everything about garage door maintenance, including how often you should get it, the signs you need it, and the crucial aspects of garage door maintenance. Or call today to get maintenance service from our garage door repair team. 

How Often To Service Garage Doors

On average, homeowners tend to use their garage door roughly 2 times a day, sometimes more or less, which can cause strain on the wheels or rollers over time. Also, the exterior of your garage door has to withstand all of the climate changes throughout the year, causing risks of sun stains and hail damage to the garage door panels and possible damage to the cables, hinges, and springs from freezing weather temperatures. That’s why we suggest annual garage door maintenance from trusted professionals. When it comes to determining whether you need frequent maintenance or annual maintenance, there are a few factors to consider with your current garage door, including age, usage, and climate. 

• The first factor is the age of your garage door: As with any machine or device, the age of the unit can significantly impact the functionality and efficiency of the garage door. You can get decades of use out of your garage door if it is properly maintained over the years; however, around the 30-year mark, you may find that you will need more frequent maintenance and repairs.
• The next factor is to consider how often you use your garage door: If you seldom use your garage door, this doesn’t exempt you from maintenance, as not using the door can actually cause more harm than good. That being said, it’s important to evaluate how much you use your garage door to determine how often you should get maintenance. Using the garage door more than twice a day consistently, whether because you have a bigger family or a busy bee constantly in and out of the house, maintenance may be necessary every six months. 
• The last factor to consider is the environment that your garage door lives in: As a resident in the Ontario area, your garage door may face harsh weather conditions. Depending on your specific local weather conditions throughout the year, from sun, rain, hail, and snow, it’s important to consider how this can impact the efficiency of your garage door. If you live in particularly snowy areas, for example, it’s wise to check on the cables, hinges, rollers, springs, and other steel hardware at least once a year during the winter months to prevent damage.

While all of these factors can impact how often you should get garage door maintenance, our experienced team at Dodds Doors advises you to invest in maintenance services at least once a year, if not more, to ensure the optimal functionality and longevity of your garage door system.

Critical Aspects of Professional Garage Door Maintenance 

For your recommended annual preventive maintenance, there are a few key aspects that are necessary to keep your garage door in its best condition. Here is the professional garage door maintenance process: 

Garage Door Inspection

To catch any signs of damage or decay early on, it’s crucial to get a thorough garage door inspection from a specialist. The first step in the maintenance process is to receive a comprehensive inspection. Our team can inspect the:

• Garage door sensor
• Garage door automatic opener
• Garage door tracks
• Garage opener motor
• Garage door spring pad
• Garage door rollers
• Garage door locks
• Garage door cable drums
• Garage door struts
• Garage torsion spring
• Garage door hinges
• Garage door panels

All of these garage door parts play a crucial role in the functioning of your garage door. Wear and tear can cause malfunctioning sensors, worn-out springs, and other issues that can be prevented with our preventive inspection.

Garage Door Testing

Then we will test everything to make sure the garage door is functioning properly. Our trusted professionals at Dodds Doors will approach the next step in garage door maintenance by testing for any signs of malfunction or failure within any of the components. If we notice the sensor is faulty or that the garage door is not properly opening or closing, we will move on to find a reliable repair solution. 

Garage Door Lubricating 

Lubrication is critical to make sure your garage door has functional moving parts. Over time, the garage door hardware parts can slowly rust or build up with grime. To make sure they run smoothly, we can lube all of the tracks, rollers, hinges, cables, and springs to reduce the wear and tear of your garage door. 

Garage Door Repair 

Whenever issues are noticed during the inspection and testing phase, this will be the time for the garage door repair experts to address them. You can entrust professional garage door specialists to replace rusty hinges, adjust loose cables, and deal with broken weather stripping. 

How to Care for Your Garage Door in Between Maintenance Services

While having a professional perform a thorough maintenance routine at least once a year is necessary to prevent costly repairs and unfortunate mishaps, there are a couple of things you can do in between your garage door services to keep everything in optimal condition. Here’s what you should do in between maintenance services to have a well-maintained garage door:

• Wipe the garage door panels to prevent debris buildup: Cleaning the door regularly is an excellent preventive maintenance measure that makes sure there is no debris, dust, or leaves in the garage door system, preventing avoidable malfunctions or jams. To clean the outside of your garage door, use a damp cloth to remove the dirt and debris, and dry it clean with a dry cloth. 
• Check out the garage door hardware: Your eyes and ears are great tools for knowing when to maintain your garage door. It’s important to take the time every few months to inspect the garage door yourself. If anything looks or sounds out of place or doesn’t look right, you’ll know it’s time to contact a professional for repairs. 
• Use garage door lubricant: Lubricating your garage door is necessary to keep the hardware and moving parts rust-free and running smoothly. We suggest using a specialty spray made from silicone-free grease or lithium-based grease on your garage door hardware twice a year. It’s important to use the proper lubricants; otherwise, it can do more harm than good.

By keeping up with your garage door chores, including cleaning, lubricating, and inspecting, you can not only enhance the functionality of your garage but also catch early signs of damage. 

Warning Signs That Indicate You Should Get Garage Door Repair 

While regular maintenance, both from a professional and with your own DIY care chores, repairs are sometimes inevitable. To be mindful of when you should get prompt assistance from a professional, here are the signs that your garage door needs repairs or maintenance: 

• Malfunctioning electrical garage door openers
• Strange and unusual noises when opening the garage door
• Visible rust on the garage door hardware components
• Physical damage to your garage door panels
• Faulty garage door opening system
• Improper garage door balance

When you are faced with garage door challenges, it’s important to reach out for prompt repair service to alleviate the issue. Whether you have a malfunctioning door roller, improper door balance, or faulty opening system, our experienced team at Dodds Doors can manage all types of garage door damage with our professional garage door repair services. Don’t ignore any minor or major problems with your garage door, and reach out to us for assistance. 

Join Dodds Garage Door Membership!

How about an annual garage door maintenance service when you join our Dodds Garage Door membership? During the home visit, our technician will conduct a 20-point maintenance plan during which they will inspect the following items:

• Cables and cable drums
• Springs and spring mounting pad
• Shaft
• Tracks
• Inspect and lubricate rollers
• Inspect and lubricate bearings
• Condition of each door section
• Weatherstripping
• Bottom rubber

This way, damaged cables or cracked spring mounts can be taken care of right away. Furthermore, we’ll lubricate the springs and bearings, as well as check the door alignment and balance.

Call Dodds Doors Today to Schedule Service for Garage Door Maintenance 

Maintaining a garage door is the determining factor in a long-lasting and efficient door. If it’s time to get your garage door serviced, leave it to our trusted garage door experts at Dodds Doors. We understand the importance of maintaining and repairing residential garage doors to keep the garage operating smoothly and secure from any intruders. Our trusted experts specialize in garage care to prevent any malfunctions with your garage door system. With our skill in catching issues early on, we can save homeowners money and time before a mishap strikes. Whether you need lubrication, garage sensor replacement, hardware tightening, or other repairs, we can handle all of your garage door needs. 

Don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly customer service reps. With our proactive garage door services, you can keep your garage door in top condition all year round. 

Contact us today at 1-877-503-6337 to get residential garage door maintenance service from our team!