A garage door is one of the biggest investments on the outside of your home, and it moves every single day. A little regular care goes a long way toward keeping it quiet, safe and working.
The best part is that most of the basics take very little time and no special skills. Here is what you can do yourself, what to leave to a professional, and how to fit it all into a Southwest Florida routine.
Look, Listen and Clean
Once a month, stand inside the garage and run the door up and down a couple of times. Watch it move and listen as it goes.
- Does it move smoothly, or does it shake, jerk or lean to one side?
- Do you hear grinding, scraping, popping or banging?
- Are any hinges loose, or any panels cracked, dented or swollen?
- Do you see rust on the hardware, or frayed strands on the cables?
Look at the springs and cables, but don't touch or adjust them. If something looks worn, make a note and call us.
Then give the door a wash. Use a soft brush or sponge and mild soapy water, rinse well and dry with a clean cloth. In Naples, a quick rinse matters because salt and humidity leave a film that sticks to the surface and hardware. Skip harsh chemicals, since they can damage the finish and make rust worse. If your door maker has a care guide for your finish, follow it.
While you are at it, wipe the tracks clean of dirt and debris, and wipe the two safety sensors near the floor so the lenses are clear.
Lubricate Rollers and Hinges
Moving parts that run dry get noisy and wear out faster, and our humid air makes that worse. Once or twice a year, apply a light coat of a lubricant made for garage doors, such as a garage-door-rated silicone or lithium lubricant, to:
- The rollers (at the stem, where they spin, not on the tracks)
- The hinges
- The bearing plates, if your door has them
Wipe off any extra so it doesn't drip or collect dust. Use a product made for garage doors, not a generic household spray.
Leave the springs alone. They hold a lot of tension, and a professional should handle anything to do with them.
Test the Safety Features
Your opener has safety features that you should test every so often.
The safety sensors. Close the door with the remote, and as it comes down, wave a broom handle through the beam near the floor. The door should stop and go back up. If it doesn't, check that the sensors are clean and lined up, and call us if it still doesn't work.
The manual release. Know how to use it before you need it. Storms can knock out power, and you don't want to find out how it works in the dark. With the door fully closed, pull the release handle and make sure the door disconnects from the opener. Then reconnect it. Never use the release when the door is open or partway up, since a door with a weak spring can fall fast.
The remote and wall button. Replace the remote batteries once a year, and make sure the wall lock switch is off so your remotes work.
Leave These Jobs to a Pro
Some parts of garage door care are not for homeowners:
- Springs and cables, including any adjustment or replacement (see garage door spring repair)
- Balancing the door
- Bent, damaged or out-of-line tracks
- Replacing panels or a door that has come off its track
- Anything inside the opener
If your door is off balance, a spring may be worn. Adjusting it is dangerous, and a tune-up from a technician is the safe answer.
We also suggest a professional inspection once a year. A technician can catch small wear on springs, cables, rollers and hardware before they turn into a stuck door on a busy morning.
A Simple Schedule for Naples Homeowners
- Monthly: run the door, look and listen, and wipe the sensors.
- Twice a year: wash the door, clean the tracks and lubricate rollers and hinges.
- Before hurricane season: test the manual release, check the seals, and look over the hardware for rust.
- After a big storm: check the door for damage and misalignment, even if it still seems to work.
- Once a year: have a professional inspect the whole system.
Let Us Help
Overdoors of Florida has been family-owned since 1983, and we offer 24/7 emergency service, same or next-day service when possible, and up-front pricing before any work begins. Call or text (239) 643-7612, or request a free quote. You can also see our garage door repair services.
Call or text (239) 643-7612, or request a free quote.