Perform these safety tests on your garage door system and contact a professional for repairs if the door fails.

Garage door balance:

• Disconnect the garage door from the opener so that it operates manually.
• Lift the door about halfway up, then release it.
• The door should remain in place; if it slips down, it isn’t balanced. Call a service technician.

Mechanical reverse feature:

• Place a piece of wood or a brick on the garage floor in the door’s path.
• Activate the garage door to close.
• When the door contacts the block, it should reverse direction if it does not, call a technician.

Door photocell:

• Locate the two photo sensors at the base of the garage door.
• Check the alignment of the sensors; they will light up when adequately aligned. Adjust as needed.
• Activate the garage door. As it closes, wave an object across the sensor path. The door should immediately reverse.
• Test at least three different points in the beam’s path.

Tip: Garage door openers over 20 years old may lack safety features such as these and may need an upgrade.

• Check the garage door tracks and hinges. Use a socket wrench or screwdriver to tighten any loose bolts or fasteners on moving parts.
• Inspect for wear on garage door rollers not attached to the lift cable system. Steel rollers will show worn bearings and may look lopsided, while nylon rollers tend to crack as they age. Purchase and install replacement rollers as needed.
• Look for wear in the lift cables attached to the door. You may notice excessive rust, deterioration, or broken strands in the wires. If they look worn, call for service.

Tip: Do not try to replace garage door cables. They are under high tension and could cause serious injury if not handled by a professional.

• First, disconnect the opener from the power source. Raise the garage door to about chest height, detach it from the opener, and then close it by hand to work on the chain.
• Locate the adjustment bolt that connects to the chain or belt. There should be nuts on either side to adjust the drive mechanism.
• Use a wrench to turn the first nut at the side of the assembly counterclockwise. Then, please move to the other nut and turn it clockwise. The chain or belt should pick up the slack.
• Tighten until the chain or belt is about a quarter inch from the bottom of the rail. Do not overtighten, as it could lead to a break.
• Reattach the door to the opener and reconnect the opener to the power supply.

Properly using garage door lubricant helps stave off corrosion in the metal parts. Some screw openers do not require lubrication, so read the manufacturer’s recommendations first. Lubricate the chain or screw with a spray application of white lithium grease.

Service the Seals and Springs

• Detach the garage door from the opener so that it operates manually.
• Raise the garage door to about chest height. Secure a clamp over the track under the roller to keep the door in place while you work.
• Use a screwdriver or pry bar to unseat the old weather stripping from the channel at the bottom of the door.
• Once loosened, the weather strip should slide out if you pull a free end from the side of the garage door.
• Clean the door groove to be free of any debris. Then, slide a new piece of weather seal into the door groove.
• If the weather seal has trouble sliding into place, pull it back out and apply penetrating oil to the groove. Then re-insert the new weather seal strip.
• Trim the weather strip to about four inches beyond the door edge. Slide the ribbon to the left, fold the overage back in on itself, then slide it back into the door groove.
• Spray the overhead torsion or extension garage door springs with penetrating oil. Spray liberally and do not wipe off excess.

Garage door springs are under high tension, so adjustment or replacement of springs requires extreme care. Consider hiring a garage door maintenance expert if a spring appears broken. Never try to adjust the garage door torsion springs or any bolts painted red or otherwise identified as requiring service by a professional only.

Clean the Garage Door Surface

Keep the garage door clean and in good repair.

• Wooden garage doors should be wiped down with a clean, dry cloth.
• Inspect the door’s surface to see if it needs repainting or staining or shows any signs of insect damage.
• Patch any small holes with wood filler, lightly sand, and then paint or stain as required.
• Wash vinyl or other synthetic garage doors with a soft cloth and appropriate cleaner.
• Thoroughly rinse the door with a hose, then dry with a microfiber cloth.
• Brush down any cobwebs on the inside of the garage doors and wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Go over any needed areas with a lightly dampened cloth.

Replace the Battery and Bulbs

Unplug the garage door opener, then try to open the door with the wall button. If it does not open, you need to replace the backup battery.

• Remove the garage door opener cover using a screwdriver and replace the spent battery with a new one.
• Replace the batteries in the door remotes.
• Replace the garage door opener light bulbs with the size and wattage recommended in the manual.

• Adjust the track brackets to reduce the friction between the door and the track.
• Loosen the nuts that hold the brackets to the door frame, and then make sure there’s about a quarter inch to a half inch of play between the door and the tracks.

Adjusting the track brackets can reduce friction between the door and the door stop. To change the track brackets, loosen the nuts that hold the track to the shelves, then move the way until the door doesn’t bind.

If the overhead garage door opens too quickly or slowly, adjust the tension of the torsion springs.

• Block the door opening with a pair of locking pliers.
• Change the position of the S-hook on the track brace.
• Check the door speed and adjust the door springs until you get the desired result.