Your garage door is probably the largest moving thing in your home, and many families use it several times a day. A little regular care keeps it running smoothly, extends the life of the motor and springs, and helps you spot problems early.

Every month (5 minutes)

  • Watch and listen. Run the door through a full cycle. It should move smoothly and evenly without jerking, scraping or banging.
  • Test the safety reverse. Place a solid object such as a block of wood or a roll of paper towel in the doorway and close the door. It should stop and reverse when it touches the object. If it doesn't, stop using the auto-close and book a service.
  • Check the safety beams. Wave something through the beam while the door is closing. The door should stop and reverse.
  • Look at the bottom seal. Gaps, cracks or a flattened seal let in dust, leaves, water and pests.

Every six months

  • Clean the tracks and wipe down the rollers and hinges (see How to Clean Roller Door Tracks).
  • Lubricate moving parts with a silicone spray or garage door lubricant (see How to Fix a Noisy or Squeaky Garage Door).
  • Tighten hardware. Check hinge screws, track brackets and motor bolts.
  • Wash the door. Colorbond and steel doors should be washed with mild soapy water and a soft brush. In coastal areas like the Mornington Peninsula, salt air speeds up corrosion, so wash every three months.
  • Replace remote batteries before they go flat.

Once a year: a professional service

A professional service goes further than you can safely go yourself. A technician will:

  • check and adjust spring tension so the door is correctly balanced
  • inspect cables, drums, bearings and pulleys for wear
  • check and adjust the motor's force settings and travel limits
  • test safety beams and auto-reverse
  • lubricate and adjust the whole system
  • tell you about any parts that are close to the end of their life.

What not to do yourself

Never adjust, loosen or remove springs, cables or the brackets attached to them. These parts hold a lot of stored energy and can cause serious injury. If something doesn't look right, leave the door closed and call a technician.

Our servicing team looks after roller, sectional, tilt, counterweight and commercial doors across Melbourne's south-east. Call-out pricing is listed on our Servicing & Repairs page.