Most often, your garage door is the largest moving object on your home. So, it’s important to have a garage door inspection done at least once per year. Not only does it ensure your door is operating safely, but it also helps it prolong its lifespan.
Best of all, you can do this yourself if you’d like! Here’s how.
How to DIY a garage door inspection
A garage door inspection is more than just giving it a quick look over. It’s a careful inspection of all the components. Don’t worry, it’s still a fairly quick process. Here’s what you’ll inspect.
Check the tracks
Remove any debris you find. Even a small buildup of dirt can cause your tracks to degrade more quickly and even disrupt the rollers. Clean or remove debris and wipe the tracks down with a damp cloth.
Inspect the rollers
Make sure the rollers aren’t damaged or misaligned. Watch them in motion to see if they’re turning properly. You can do this by rocking the wheel back and forth with your fingers. Be careful to not pinch your finger!
Ensure screws are tight
During your garage door inspection, don’t overlook the hardware. Because your garage door opens and closes thousands of times in its lifetime, screws can loosen over time. You’ll find the screws on all the door hinges.
Examine garage door springs
Look for any cracks in the springs, make sure there’s no visible gaps in them, and that they’re rust-free. Here are signs that come up during operation that your garage door spring needs replaced.
Look for moving parts that need lubrication
The moving parts on your garage door need lubricated on occasion. If they move unevenly or appear to struggle at all, they likely need lubrication. Here’s a video on what lubrication we use and where we apply it.
Inspect the inward and outward surface
Cracks, water damage, or otherwise damaged panels need replaced or might be a sign the entire door might need replacement.
Check for door balance
To test your door’s balance during a garage door inspection, close the door and disconnect the carriage from the chain or belt by pulling the release handle. The door should be able to be lifted manually. Open the door halfway. If it stays in place, the door is balanced. If it doesn’t stay in place, it is unbalanced. Reengage the carriage by moving it toward the opener. If it is unbalanced, give us a call as this is something a professional should repair.
Conduct a safety contact reversal test
Open your garage door and place a board on the ground at the center of the door and attempt to close the door. When the door contacts the board, it should reverse directions and reopen. If it doesn’t, the downforce control limit needs to be adjusted. Set it by following the directions on your garage door, then do a force control test following the manual. Repeat the test as needed.
Test the photo eye sensors
Make sure your sensors are aligned. Typically, they have lights that indicate if they are. Close the door and wave something through the beam between the sensors. The door should reverse direction. If not, clean the sensors with a damp cleaning cloth and try again. If the door still does not reverse direction, give us a call. There is something that needs repaired that we recommend a professional to complete.
Are your batteries charged?
When’s the last time you’ve replaced the batteries in your garage door remote? If it’s been a while, you might swap them out or keep some replacement batteries in a convenient location.
Sweep up
Sweep away any debris around your garage door. If there are leaves or twigs near your garage door, it only takes a breeze to send them onto the tracks. Also, if you have anything stored near your garage door you might want to move it farther away. It could fall into the door or tracks and damage them.
Why is it important to have a routine garage door inspection?
An annual garage door inspection is important because you can find small issues before they grow. Something as simple as lubricating the moving parts, tightening screws, and cleaning components can prolong the lifespan of your garage door. And it only takes around 15 minutes!
If you aren’t confident in your ability to inspect your own garage door, if it’s been a while since it’s had maintenance, or if you think it isn’t functioning properly, give us a call! Better yet, join our membership plan and get yearly, professional maintenance at a discount, a discount on parts, a free surge protector, and more! We’ll make sure your garage door lasts as long as it can and minimize your repair costs.
