The air has that certain crispness to it. Leaves are starting to turn, and you’ve probably dug a favorite sweater out of the closet. Fall is definitely settling in around Apex, NC, which means it’s time for some important home prep. While you’re thinking about your furnace or yard, don’t forget your overhead door because a little fall garage door maintenance now can save you from a major headache and an expensive door repair on a freezing winter morning.
Your garage door is the largest of all the moving parts of your home. It goes up and down thousands of times a year, often without a second thought. You need it to work reliably, but it’s easy to ignore until your garage door won’t open and your car is trapped inside.
Putting in a bit of effort with some garage door maintenance can help prevent a whole lot of trouble later. After all, a stuck or broken door is more than an inconvenience. It can be a security risk and a safety hazard. This simple maintenance checklist will help you avoid potential issues.
Why Fall Weather Is Tough on Your Garage Door
It might not seem obvious, but dropping temperatures have a big effect on your garage doors. The metal components, like torsion springs and tracks, can contract in the cold. This adds extra strain on the whole system, including the garage door opener, every time you use it.
Older lubricants can get thick and gummy in cold weather, making it harder for the moving parts to operate smoothly. Moisture from rain and melting snow can also lead to rust on critical components, such as the garage door springs or cables, which weakens them over time. This can cause a chain drive opener to work much harder than it should.
Beyond convenience, there’s a real safety element to think about. A well-maintained residential garage door is a safer door for your family. Taking a few minutes to check things over helps protect your family and your property from a sudden door fall.
Your Essential Fall Garage Door Maintenance Checklist
You don’t need to be a mechanical expert to handle some basic maintenance tasks. Set aside about an hour on a weekend for these maintenance tips.
Step 1: Just Watch and Listen
Start with a simple observation test. Stand inside your garage and have someone open and close the door using the garage door opener. Listen for any strange sounds, such as scraping, grinding, or jerky movements, as the garage door opens and closes.
Next, with the door closed, look over the different parts. Check the door springs, cables, and rollers for any visible signs of wear and tear. You’re looking for signs of wear, such as frayed cables or rust, on the garage door torsion springs.
Step 2: Test the Safety Features
Every modern garage door has safety features that you should test regularly. The first is the photoelectric sensors, or photo eyes. These are the two little boxes near the bottom of the tracks on either side that create an invisible beam.
Start the door to close, and then wave something like a broomstick in front of one of the photo eyes. The safety reverse mechanism should immediately stop the door and send it back up. If it doesn’t, the sensors might be misaligned or need cleaning.
Next, test the safety reverse on the door opener itself. Place a piece of a 2-by-4 board flat on the ground in the door’s path. When the closing door touches the board, it should automatically reverse direction.
Also, familiarize yourself with the emergency release handle, which is usually a red cord hanging from the opener track. If your opener fails or the power goes out, pulling this handle will disconnect the door from the opener, allowing you to operate it manually.
Step 3: Tighten Loose Hardware
The constant movement and vibration of your garage door can cause nuts and bolts to loosen. Grab a socket wrench and check the brackets that hold the tracks to the wall and ceiling. Gently tighten any that seem loose, but be careful not to overtighten them.
It’s very important to know what not to touch. Any bolts or hardware painted red are attached to the high-tension spring system. Leave those parts alone, as they’re under extreme spring tension and can cause serious injury if mishandled.
Step 4: Seal the Gaps
That worn-out rubber seal at the bottom of your garage door has a big job. It keeps out cold drafts, water, and even pests. Close your garage door and look for any daylight coming through the bottom or sides, a sign that the seal is failing.
Over time, this weatherstripping can become cracked and brittle. If yours is in bad shape, replacing it is a pretty simple job you can do yourself. You can find new seals at any home improvement store, and this small fix can even help with your home’s energy efficiency.
Step 5: Lubricate the Moving Parts
Proper lubrication keeps everything running smoothly and quietly. You’ll need a garage door-specific lubricant, which is usually a silicone or lithium-based spray. Don’t use a general-purpose product like WD-40, as it can attract dirt and gum up the moving parts.
Carefully lubricate moving parts like the door’s hinges, metal rollers (specifically the stems), and springs. A quick spray on the torsion spring can help reduce noise and prevent corrosion. This simple step helps the door open and close without unnecessary strain.
Step 6: Clean the Tracks
Your garage door rollers travel along metal tracks on either side of the door. These tracks can collect dirt and debris, which can stop the rollers from working correctly and even cause the door to stop halfway. Take a moment to wipe them down with a damp cloth.
It’s a common mistake to lubricate the tracks themselves, but you shouldn’t do this. Lubricant on the tracks can make the rollers slide instead of roll. This can put excess wear on them and potentially cause the door to come off its track.
| Maintenance Task | Tools Needed | What To Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Observe & Listen | Eyes and ears | Jerky movements, grinding noises, or frayed cables. |
| Test Safety Features | 2-by-4 board, broomstick | The door should reverse when the photo eyes are blocked and when it hits the board. |
| Tighten Hardware | Socket wrench | Loose brackets and bolts (avoid any hardware painted red). |
| Check Weather Seal | Eyes | Daylight around the bottom or sides of the closed door. |
| Lubricate Moving Parts | Garage door lubricant | Apply to hinges, roller stems, and springs for smooth operation. |
| Clean Tracks | Damp cloth | Debris or dirt buildup inside the roller tracks. |
When You Should Call a Professional
Knowing your limits is a big part of do-it-yourself (DIY) home maintenance. Some jobs are simply too dangerous or complex for the average homeowner. It’s always better to be safe and schedule service with a professional garage door company and supplier.
If you see a broken torsion spring, don’t attempt to fix or even operate the door manually or with the opener. A garage door torsion spring is under incredible tension and can snap with dangerous force. You should also call for help if you have a snapped cable or if your door has come completely off its track, as these aren’t safe DIY projects.
Finally, if your safety reverse mechanism fails the tests mentioned earlier, get a professional to perform a garage door service. An overhead door company has the right tools and knowledge to fix the problem safely. Whether you need a simple repair service or a full garage door installation, a professional provides peace of mind that the job is done right.
Our Conclusion
A garage door is a system that needs care just like any other major appliance in your home. Taking some time for fall garage door maintenance protects your investment and helps keep your family safe. This maintenance checklist will also help you prepare for winter and avoid an emergency call for garage door repairs when the temperature drops.
