Garage Door Tune-Ups: Keeping Your Garage Door in Tip-Top Shape

While homeowners might have maintenance plans for many systems around their house, one that should not be overlooked is your garage door. Your garage door is most likely used every day – if not multiple times a day – and setting up regular annual service such as a garage door tune-up can pay dividends down the road.

A garage door tune-up is beneficial for the safety, longevity and performance of your garage door and its components, prolonging the need for a full garage door replacement. Garage.com connects you with top-rated companies that perform garage door tune-ups to help ensure your system is safe and secure for your family.

What Is a Garage Door Tune-Up?

Garage doors are used up to 1,500 times a year by homeowners, according to online reports. Many people use their garage door as the main way into their home. So it should be protected.

A garage door tune-up is an upfront investment and proactive maintenance plan that can cost between $100 and $300 – which is much less than if something breaks and needs replacing or an emergency repair. It entails a company sending out a technician to perform a multi-point inspection of the various components of the garage door.

Why Is a Garage Door Tune-Up Important?

There are many positive aspects of a garage door tune-up, including:

• Extended lifespan: By conducting an annual or bi-annual garage door tune-up, you help ensure your garage door system and components are all working smoothly.
• Proactive prevention:  A garage door tune-up can help identify potential issues before they become a bigger problem.
• Safety: By keeping up on maintenance and making sure all components are working correctly, you lower the chances of accidents occuring.

What’s Included in a Professional Garage Door Tune-Up

Each company has their own criteria for inspections, so it’s best to check beforehand to make sure you are comfortable with what is and what is not included in a garage door tune-up.

Some of the most common areas and acts technicians will inspect and perform are:

• Hardware (springs, cables, hinges) inspection and tightening 
• Lubrication of moving parts
• Balance testing and track alignment
• Garage door opener check
• Safety sensors check
• Weather seal check 

Garage doors are heavy and deal with high-tension components, so while you might be tempted to do maintenance yourself as a way to cut costs, we recommend leaving it to the professionals and the tools and expertise they bring. You don’t want to try and fix something by yourself and possibly do more damage to the garage door and/or yourself.

Signs Your Garage Door Needs a Tune-Up

As you use your garage door multiple times a day, or even just once a day, there are signs to be aware of that hint that a garage door tune-up might be a good idea.

Some of the most common warning signs are:

• Unusual noises: Your garage door might make some unsavory squeaking or grinding sounds as it opens and closes. The fix could be as simple as adding lubricant, but it’s best to have a technician there to make a professional assessment.
• Slow, inconsistent or wonky operation: Perhaps your garage door opens and closes slowly or shakes a bit. That is a sign the tracks, cables or springs might need to be examined.
• Higher energy costs: You want your garage door, when closed, to have a nice seal with the ground. A garage door tune-up can check that.
• Visibly worn components: Do you see rust or does it look like cables are fraying? If you see something that is questionable, a technician can help. 

A garage door tune-up can identify potential issues early and fix them before they become a bigger problem. If your garage won’t close or the door won’t open you may need emergency garage door repair and we recommend contacting a professional for the best outcome.

How Often Should You Schedule a Garage Door Tune-Up?

It is recommended by most highly rated garage door companies to conduct a tune-up once or twice a year. Factors that could determine if one or two annual tune-ups is preferred are:

• High usage
• Living in extreme weather conditions
• Age of the garage door system

Receiving a garage door tune-up in the spring and fall are ideal times to give you peace of mind before the summer or winter seasons.

Cost of Garage Door Tune-Ups: Investment vs. Value

A garage door tune-up is an upfront investment to keep your system running smoothly and identifying potential issues early. The average garage door tune-up can cost anywhere from $100 to $300 (it is best to check with the company you choose beforehand so you understand the costs). 

If a technician finds garage door repairs or replacements that need to be made, your cost would most likely increase – and how much would depend on numerous factors such as what component is damaged and your door type.

While a garage door tune-up may seem like an unnecessary added cost with little upside, it is a proactive approach that could prove beneficial and keep you from having an emergency in the future. 

If you are considering a garage door tune-up, call Garage.com today to receive a quote from a top-rated company about any maintenance plans or seasonal specials they might offer.

Common Issues Discovered During Garage Door Tune-Ups

A garage door tune-up can help ensure your system works as it should and identify any issues hopefully before they become a bigger problem. Some of the common issues that technicians find and can assist with during a tune-up are:

• Worn rollers, cables or springs
• Misaligned tracks
• Opener issues
• Weather stripping

Early detection of potential issues found in a garage door tune-up are beneficial because it can be much more cost effective to repair and upkeep components than replacing later on or having an emergency and endangering your vehicle or family.

DIY Garage Door Maintenance vs. Professional Tune-Ups

While we recommend using a top-rated company to perform a garage door tune-up for your system, there are some things you can safely do. Visual inspections, keeping tracks clean and basic lubrication of parts are low-risk maintenance items homeowners can perform.

Garage.com suggests you save any other maintenance – such as spring tension adjustments, electrical work, safety testing or part replacements – to the professionals as they are trained and experienced.

Trying to fix an issue yourself, without the benefit of a professional, could lead to more costly problems down the road. Perhaps more importantly, due to the nature of the high-tension components and heaviness of the door, injuries could occur that would compound your dilemma. 

Because of the safety concerns, Garage.com recommends using its top-rated partners to conduct your garage door tune-ups.

Garage Tune-Ups FAQ