Garage Door Servicing

To avoid a garage door repair it is essential that you have an annual garage door servicing program. Through regular maintenance and inspections, we can often avoid 99% of future problems. 

Our garage door service program is one of the most comprehensive in the industry. With over 28 years of group experience, we have developed a comprehensive checklist to cover all componentry on your garage door. 

What do we service and repair on your garage door? 

The average garage door has over 76 individual parts. Of those parts, roughly 50% move. When we do a service on your garage door we break the garage door and work into three main areas. 

Three Main Areas of a Garage Door Service!

Door and Rail Components Service

These components and service work on the garage door are essentially hinged or connected to the forward section of every door. They are not relatively expensive parts,  but if one of them breaks they can cause major failure and can often make other parts break in the process. 

The list is – 

#1 Wipe down the internal section of the door/removal of built-up grease or cobwebs on door and tracks.  

Although this sounds like general spring cleaning,  we can honestly say we rarely see the internal working sections of garage doors at an acceptable clean level that allows for componentry to work smoothly.  through cleaning the area,  we’re also inspecting for excessive buildup of grease and debris.  this is often a clue as to the how the garage door is tracking. 

#2 Hinges/Bolts /screw tensions inspected

Hinges play a critical role in a well-tuned garage door. If a hinge is loose or broken it will immediately put additional stress on other parts of the door. By inspecting for loose bolts and broken hinges we can confirm the main structure of the door is intact. 

#3 Castor wheels / Rollers inspected

The caster wheels or commonly referred to as rollers and sure that the garage door can roll up and down within the tracks.  Is not uncommon to have a roller out of the tracks nor is it uncommon to have a roller that has been cut bent or twisted. We do not lubricate the rollers themselves as we want them to roll within the track area (with grip). If the track area is lubricated this actually inhibits the roller and will cause it to skid through the track as to roll, this can cause wear on one side and create issues in the future. The shaft that the roller is connected to is the only area that is lubricated. Typically if the shafts are lubricated this can have an impact on reducing the amount of noise the garage door makes. 

#4 Cables Inspected

By inspecting the cables on the garage door we can often see the history of how the mechanics have been operating over the years.  if one cable is loose we can very quickly tighten it up.  if the cables are wearing we will recommend replacement. Garage door cables are a critical item and we strongly recommend having them replaced if there is excessive wear. 

#5 Cable Drums inspected

The cable drum sits at the top corner of the garage door and is responsible for rolling the cable up evenly when the door is in the up position. Over the years cable drums can become loose or even warped as they hold a considerable amount of weight. Our technicians will ensure the cable drums are rolling correctly and coiling the cable as it is intended.  if we notice something is wrong we will advise accordingly. 

#6 Springs Inspected and lubricated 

A garage door spring or commonly known as a torsion spring is responsible for lifting approximately 90% of the garage doors weight.  a properly balanced and tensioned garage door spring in our opinion is the number one most important thing you can do to a garage door.  if our technician sees the garage door weighs too much when in manual mode this puts undue pressure on the motor and other components.  our technician tension the springs to correct the weight and balance of the door. 

#7 Motor Arm 

The motor arm is essentially the long rod that connects the garage door motor to the garage door. There is typically a guide a puly, a chain, or a belt running along the motor arm. Is very important that all connections to the garage door are tight and secure plus the chain belt or pulley system is lubricated and working efficiently. 

#8 Bearings Inspected and Lubricated

Throughout the garage door, there are bearings. These range from enclosed bearings that cannot be lubricated to open bearings that should be lubricated. Bearings are located in the caster wheels within the tracks and at the end of the motor arm above the garage door and motor.  we look for excessive metallic wear of the bearings and will lubricate as we see required. 

#9 Quick Close Hinges Inspected and Lubricated 

This style of hinge is unique to a small percentage of garage doors but is usually responsible for excessive noise or damage within the garage.  If your garage door has a quick close hinge we will adjust play hinge or potentially adjust the force travel limits to the garage motor. 

#10 Anchor Points to Wall or Ceiling Checked and Tightened

An anchor point is essentially any screw or bolts or connection to the ceiling or wall that holds the garage brackets or Motor in place. By ensuring all connection points are tight this reduces unnecessary vibration, noise and wobbling or rocking of the door and motor. 

Motor Opener inspection Service

#11 Clean / Wipe Down Motor

The garage door motor does a large part of the hard work in opening and closing your garage door.  it uses electricity and prefers to operate in a cooler environment. If the motor becomes excessively hot, it will typically shut down until they are cool again.  hence it is important to give the garage door motor a wipe over and clean of any dirt or debris or pollution that is blocking the air vents. 

#12 Reset Travel Limits & Force Settings 

Over time garage door motors settings start to become untuned and change. It is not that different to tuning a car engine. All garage door motors have two jobs to remember,  the force wild going up and down and the travel setting while closing an opening at the top.  a common problem We see with some garage door motors is the garage door is pulled too far inside the top of the motor or the garage door closes too hard to the ground.  These are known as travel limits and we typically adjust these on 80% of garage door service inspections. 

#13 Sprocket inspected and Lubricated

The sprocket sits above the garage door motor and can wear out for a number of reasons not dissimilar to the gear sprocket on a bike. By inspecting the sprocket for wear,  we can avoid nasty future problems.  we inspect the top of the garage door motor for metallic filings. 

#14 Motor Rail Inspected for rust and Lubricated

The motor rail or control arm that runs between the garage door motor and the garage door is basically a pulley system.  many people try to lubricate this area by spraying the underside of the control arm with CRC or oil. What they don’t realise is 90% of the wear happens on top of the control arm and is rarely lubricated. Our technicians are trained to check the structural integrity of the control arm for any weak points and lubricate as required with the manufacturer specified lubrication. 

#15 Chain / Belt inspected for wear and Rust and Lubricated 

Running along the motor rail and control arm section there is either an open-chain not dissimilar to a bicycle chain or a rubber belt that pulls/lifts the garage door.  depending on what you have within your garage will depend on the type of lubrication and inspection. Our technicians are trained for both types of pulley systems to ensure everything is operating smoothly. 

Door Movement Inspection

#16 Panel Fatigue or Cracks Inspected

Garage door panels are predominantly made out of aluminium or steel  and is only about 2 to 3 mm thick.  if a single hinge is bearing an excessive load,  this can put additional stress on parts or sections of the garage door panels.  it is very important but this is picked up and prevented  as replacing a panel section of a garage door can be one of the more costly exercises. 

#17 Door Closing Evenly Inspected

A garage door should always be touching the ground evenly on both sides as it comes to a stop. By inspecting and watching the garage door closing we can tell if the cables and springs and hinges are working effectively. The travel limits on the motor may also have to be adjusted to ensure the door is closing smoothly.

#18 Door Seal Condition Checked

A garage door seal is not something you’ve probably ever thought about but it does play one of the most pivotal roles in keeping the wind, rain, or sun out of your garage. If the seal is torn or worn out, for a relatively cheap price it can easily be replaced and ensure it keeps the weather out. 

 #19 Structural Cracks in Brickwork or Steel Lintels Inspected

All garage doors and garage door motors are in some way connected to a wall or ceiling.  sometimes the vibration from the garage door over many years can cause cracking in brickwork,  timber or steel supports.  our technicians are trained to look for any unusual cracks near connection points that might have a negative impact on your garage door in the near future.  although we cannot fix the cracks it is quite common that we will remove the fixing point and replace with a larger bolt or screw to ensure a snug fit. 

 #20 Clean Floor and Driveway of Created Rubbish

A lot of people think a garage door service is nothing more than spraying a bit of CRC over a few components.  nothing could be further than the truth. It is very common that we replace screws & bolts,  hinges and rollers. In some places, we have to use an angle grinder or high powered drills to get the garage door service completed. These make a lot of metallic filings and dust on the ground and it is our business standard we take our mess with us! 

#21 Service Sticker 

As part of our professional garage door service, we pride ourselves on professionalism and experience. Because a garage door is not something you think about every day, we will place a sticker on your garage door where you can automatically book a service via the QR code or see the date the next service is due!