Your garage door opens and closes day after day – until it doesn’t. Maybe it starts squeaking, sticks during a cold snap, or refuses to budge when you’re trying to get out the door. It’s one of the most-used parts of your home or business, and like any mechanical system, it needs regular care to stay functional.
Thompson Garage Doors has provided homeowners and businesses in Northern Nevada and Northern California with professional garage door services since 1957. With 300 garage doors in stock, a hands-on showroom in Sparks, and 24/7 garage door emergency repair, we’re built for fast service and long-term solutions.
To help you keep your door working without problems, we’ve put together a seasonal garage door maintenance checklist that covers what you should check during each season.
Table Of Content
Why Seasonal Garage Door Maintenance MattersYear-Round Garage Door Maintenance Checklist
Seasonal Garage Door Maintenance Tasks
When to Call a Professional
Staying Ahead of Problems
Don’t Wait for a Breakdown
Why Seasonal Garage Door Maintenance Matters
Seasonal maintenance is about preventing bigger problems before they show up. Checking your door regularly helps you spot wear, improve safety, and avoid costly repairs.
Why Preventive Maintenance Is Worth Your Time
A garage door has a complex system of springs, rollers, tracks, and motors that all need to work together. Over time, even normal use can wear down parts, and when one part fails, it often affects the whole system. Neglecting regular checks can lead to more wear on garage door parts, increasing the risk of breakdowns. Each season, basic maintenance can help you:
Spot signs of wear early
Rust on springs, rust spots on steel panels, loose bolts, or cracked weatherstripping are easy to miss until they lead to real problems. Catching these issues early keeps repairs small and manageable.
Keep your door running safely
A door that doesn’t stop when it should or comes off track is a safety risk. Regular testing of safety features like auto-reverse sensors and garage door openers helps prevent accidents.
Extend your door’s lifespan
Like oil changes help a car last longer, garage door preventive maintenance helps the opener system run smoothly for years, and it’s essential to maintain performance and longevity.
For homeowners, this means fewer unexpected repairs. For businesses that use high-speed or roll-up garage doors, preventive maintenance helps avoid downtime that could affect productivity or deliveries.
What’s Different for Homes vs. Businesses?
Residential doors open just a few times a day, when you’re leaving for work, running errands, or getting home. In contrast, commercial garage doors may operate dozens or even hundreds of times each day, depending on the business. That heavier workload changes how you should approach maintenance:
Commercial doors need more frequent inspections
With constant use, components like rollers, hinges, and springs wear down faster, so they should be inspected frequently. Waiting too long between checks can lead to costly breakdowns or safety risks.
Hardware takes a bigger beating
High-traffic use exposes parts to more vibration, debris, weather, and issues like loose nuts, especially in warehouses, delivery bays, and auto shops.
Professional servicing is often a must:
Businesses install garage doors for smooth operations. A stuck or broken door can slow deliveries, affect security, or disrupt work schedules.
If you’re managing a business, scheduled service and preventative maintenance on garage doors is a smart choice for your operations plan. And if you’re a homeowner, staying on top of seasonal checks helps make sure your door works when you need it most, during extreme weather or daily rushes.
Schedule a Seasonal Door Inspection
Year-Round Garage Door Maintenance Checklist
This year-round checklist breaks down what to inspect regularly to keep your door running safely, quietly, and reliably, whether it’s the middle of winter or the peak of summer.
Monthly: Give It a Quick Look
A once-a-month visual check can help in preventing bigger problems, a few minutes to look things over while the door is opening or closing. Here’s what to keep an eye on:
Frayed or loose cables
These are under high tension and should never be adjusted on your own, but visible damage is a red flag.
Rusty or stretched springs
Both torsion springs should be checked for rust or stretching. Any corrosion on the springs or uneven gaps between coils can signal trouble ahead.
Warped, bent, or dented panels
These affect how smoothly the door opens and may lead to misalignment over time. For example, wood doors are particularly susceptible to warping or damage if not regularly maintained.
Cracked weatherstripping or a loose bottom seal
These small parts, including the rubber seal at the bottom of the door, help with insulation and pest control; damaged seals let in moisture and cold air.
Worn or noisy rollers
If the door’s movement is jerky or louder than usual, worn rollers or debris in the tracks could be to blame.
A garage door that creaks, pops, or moves unevenly may need immediate repair. If anything feels off, it’s worth calling a professional for garage door repair in Reno, NV, before it becomes a bigger issue.
Every 3 to 6 Months: Lubricate Moving Parts
Lubrication protects key parts from wear, friction, and rust in places with temperature swings or dry air. Use a silicone-based garage door lubricant (not grease, which attracts dust and grime). Focus on these areas:
Rollers
Apply a small amount where they meet the track. Avoid nylon rollers unless they have exposed bearings.
Hinges
Lubricate the pivot points to keep the door panels moving freely.
Springs
A light spray helps prevent corrosion and reduces tension stress on the torsion spring, which is typically located at the center of the door.
Tracks
Wipe the garage door tracks clean first. Lubricate only the curved portions; don’t overdo it, or the rollers might slip.
If your door starts squeaking, rattling, or grinding, it’s probably overdue for some maintenance. And always wipe off excess lubricant; more isn’t better for garage doors.
Seasonal: Check Balance and Alignment
An unbalanced garage door can strain your opener, wear out parts faster, and pose a safety risk. A quick seasonal check helps catch alignment or spring issues before they get worse. Here’s how to check your balance safely:
- Disconnect the opener by pulling the manual release handle (usually a red cord).
- Lift the door halfway and let go carefully.
- If the door stays in place, it’s balanced.
- If it drifts up or drops down, the springs are likely out of balance and need professional adjustment.
Also, take a moment to watch the door as it moves:
- Does it tilt to one side?
- Does it jerk or move unevenly?
These are signs that the alignment could be off or that the tracks, rollers, or cables need attention. If something feels off, don’t force it; call a technician before it leads to bigger issues.
Quarterly: Test Safety Features
Garage door safety systems are built to protect your family, your employees, and even your pets. Testing them every few months makes sure they’re doing their job. Here’s what to check:
Auto-Reverse Test
Place a roll of paper towels or a block of wood in the door’s path, then close the door. It should stop and reverse when it touches the object. If it doesn’t, the opener may need adjustment or repair.
Sensor Alignment
Clean the photo-eye sensors near the bottom of the door using a soft cloth. Make sure the lenses are clear and facing each other. If they’re misaligned or dirty, the door may not close.
Remote & Wall Switches
Test all openers, keypads, and wall switches to confirm they’re working consistently. Weak batteries or wiring issues can cause delays or total failure.
If you notice hesitation, strange sounds, or inconsistent movement during these tests, it’s best to schedule a professional garage door maintenance before the problem worsens.
Request a Garage Maintenance Appointment
Seasonal Garage Door Maintenance Tasks
Each season brings different challenges for your garage door; cold, heat, moisture, and debris can all affect how it works. Tackling a few key tasks as the weather changes helps you prevent wear, reduce repairs, and keep your door running smoothly year-round.
Spring
Once the cold weather clears, it’s a good time to do a full walkthrough:
- Check for any rust or water damage.
- Test the tension in your springs.
- Clean the tracks and windows.
- Clear out any nests, leaves, or buildup.
Summer
Heat can cause parts to shift or expand, especially metal components:
- Look for any loose bolts, brackets, or screws.
- Tighten them as needed.
- Check weather stripping for sun damage or cracks.
Fall
Before it gets cold, make sure everything is ready for winter:
- Sweep away any fallen leaves and dirt from around the door.
- Check insulation, especially if the garage is attached to your house.
- Book a professional inspection if you haven’t had one in a while to help prevent extensive repairs later.
Winter
Cold weather can affect how your garage door works:
- Replace remote batteries if they’re running low.
- Make sure the door isn’t sticking or freezing to the ground.
- Reapply lubricant to prevent metal parts from rusting.
- Check seals so cold air stays out and warm air stays in.
When to Call a Professional
If you notice strange noises, unsteady movement, or visible damage, it’s safer (and often more cost-effective in the long run) to have it checked out by a professional.
Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
- The door doesn’t stay open.
- You hear loud grinding or popping noises.
- Panels are sagging, or parts are broken.
If you manage a commercial space, having regular professional maintenance, every 6 to 12 months, is enough.
Book Your Garage Door Tune-Up
Staying Ahead of Problems
Preventative garage door maintenance means fewer surprises and improved performance. For both homes and businesses, the cost of garage door maintenance and care pays off over time.
Be sure to ask about service plans, which often include routine inspections, priority service, and help prevent costly issues from building up unnoticed.
Don’t Wait for a Breakdown
Quick monthly checks, seasonal tune-ups, and annual inspections can help you avoid surprise repairs and extend the life of your door. Whether you’re a homeowner or managing a busy facility, this kind of preventative maintenance on garage doors saves time, money, and stress.
If you’re in Reno, Sparks, or nearby areas and need expert help, Thompson Garage Doors offers repair, scheduled tune-ups, and 24/7 garage door emergency repair.
Contact us today!