A garage door is like any other hardworking part of a home, it needs a little regular care to keep it running smooth. Too often, we see doors in Novato that have gone years without maintenance, and by the time we’re called in, the fix is bigger (and costlier) than it needed to be. Good news is, with a few simple steps for basic garage door maintenance Novato, you can extend the life of your door, keep it quiet, and avoid most surprise breakdowns.
Maintenance Matters
Garage doors are one of the heaviest moving parts in your home. They’re lifted and lowered hundreds of times a year, relying on springs, rollers, tracks, and openers all working in sync. Skipping maintenance is like ignoring oil changes for your car, sooner or later, it catches up and when it does, you might be risking costly repairs!
Step 1: Listen and Look
It’s a good idea to inspect your door at least once a month.
Open and close it, paying attention to any grinding, scraping, or jerky movement. Look for frayed cables, bent tracks, or rollers that don’t roll smoothly. These small signs can point to bigger issues down the road.
Step 2: Keep It Lubed
One of the easiest garage door maintenance tips for Novato homeowners is lubricating the moving parts. A good silicone-based lubricant on rollers, hinges, and springs helps reduce friction and wear. Avoid heavy grease, it attracts dirt and can gum up the works.
Step 3: Test the Balance
An unbalanced door is forced to work harder than necessary and leads to early wear. To test the balance, disconnect the opener and lift the door manually about halfway. If it stays in place, the balance is good. If it slams shut or shoots up, the springs need adjustment, a job best left to a pro for safety reasons.
Step 4: Check the Safety Features
Modern garage doors have auto-reverse sensors to prevent accidents. Test them by placing a small object (like a block of wood) in the door’s path. When closing, the door should reverse immediately after hitting the object. Also, wave something in front of the photo-eye sensors while the door is closing, it should reverse instantly.
Step 5: Keep It Clean
Wipe down tracks to remove dust and debris. A clean track ensures smooth operation and prevents dirt from wearing down moving parts. For coastal Novato homes, salt in the air can cause corrosion, so a quick clean can go a long way.
When to Call in the Pros
Some jobs, like spring replacement or major realignment, aren’t DIY-friendly. That’s when you want to bring in experienced garage door companies in Novato that know the local conditions and common issues. A professional tune-up once a year is an affordable way to keep your door at peak performance.
Keep Your Garage Door Running Like New!
Don’t wait for a breakdown to happen. Schedule your annual tune-up with Mark’s Garage Doors today and keep your door running like new.
📞 Call us now at (415) 497-0459 or contact us online for fast, friendly service from one of the most trusted garage door companies in Novato.
