Regardless of the type of garage door you have, it’s hard to underestimate the importance of booking it in for a regular service. Doing so will ensure it remains in good condition and proper working order, reducing the chances of unexpected bills later down the line.
What is garage door servicing?
A garage door service is a routine maintenance process where a qualified professional inspects a garage door’s appearance and functionality, cleaning specific areas of the door and making adjustments as necessary. Servicing takes place on an annual basis and typically involves the following checks:
- Lubricating the door’s moving parts (rollers, springs, pulleys, hinges and locks) to ensure smooth operation and provide ongoing protection against rust and corrosion.
- Tightening or adjusting any hardware, including nuts, hinges, bolts and brackets, that may have come loose as a result of frequent door usage. During an annual service, a professional engineer will also check that the door’s locks are working properly, strengthening your garage’s security.
- Visually inspecting all parts of the door for signs of damage, rust, or wear and tear. In most cases, this means checking the condition of your door’s springs, cables, tracks, rollers, sealing, and panels. If any damage is identified during the service, the affected areas will be addressed.
- A balance check to ensure that the door stays in place when lifted to its halfway point. If it doesn’t, this may suggest the door’s weight isn’t properly counterbalanced by its springs, which can put excessive strain on its opening mechanism and lead to motor failure.
- Cleaning panels and tracks to remove dirt and debris that may impact how a door looks and opens and closes.
- For automatic garage doors, a typical service also includes testing the safety reversal function, which is required to ensure the door complies with safety regulations. This is also a good opportunity to discuss additional requirements, such as extra transmitters or internal push buttons
What are the benefits of a garage door service?
Even though garage doors made by leading manufacturers are highly durable, having them professionally serviced every year has several advantages:
- Continued safety and security: Having your garage inspected regularly provides peace of mind that all heavy parts are fully secure, which significantly reduces the chances of damage or injury. These checks will also help to highlight any weaknesses in your garage’s security features, addressing these to protect your home against intrusion.
- Seamless operation: Frequent or everyday use can affect how your door’s mechanisms perform, leading to irritating grinding and squeaking noises or problems with how it opens and closes. A service can help tackle these problems and ensure your door runs smoothly and quietly.
- Reduced repairs: Scheduling a regular servicing appointment allows your door to be inspected by experienced professionals who are trained to perform routine maintenance tasks and identify small issues before they become major problems. This reduces the need for major repairs and extends your door’s lifespan, saving you considerable time and money.
In some cases, an annual garage door service is also required to validate the manufacturer’s warranty.
Keeping your garage door functioning between services
Although there’s no substitute for a professional service, there’s plenty you can do to take care of your door in between appointments. This includes keeping it clean and clear of obstructions as well as ensuring you operate it in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are confident enough to do so, you should also keep your door’s moving parts well-lubricated and perform regular checks for any damage or wear and tear.
Doorfit: Your garage door repairs & servicing specialists
Doorfit is one of the West Midlands’ most respected garage door companies. We complete garage door installations for homeowners and business customers throughout the local area, providing an exceptional service focused on safety, quality and compliance.
Our professional team carries out routine garage door maintenance, servicing and repairs for all types of doors, from roller shutters and side-hinged designs right through to those with electric operators. We can often diagnose faults via text, WhatsApp or email, and will always provide a fixed cost for your garage door service before sending an engineer to your property.
To find out more about our garage door services, call us on 0121 418 8547 today.