Residential Garage Door & Opener Maintenance & Safety Guide

Keep Your Garage Door System Safe And Reliable

Your garage door is often the largest and heaviest moving object in your home, and it is used multiple times each day. Regular garage door maintenance and safety checks help keep your system operating safely and reliably over time.

An improperly adjusted garage door or opener can exert significant force during operation. If the safety systems are not working correctly, the door can cause property damage or serious injury. Routine inspections help prevent issues and extend the life of your garage door system.

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Monthly Garage Door Maintenance & Safety Checks

The following checks are recommended by industry safety guidelines and the DASMA Automatic Garage Door Opener Safety & Maintenance Guide.

1. Test The Automatic Reversal System

Garage door openers are designed to reverse direction if the garage door contacts an obstruction. This is one of the most important garage door safety features to test regularly.

How to test:
· Place a 2×4 piece of wood flat on the floor in the garage door’s path.
· Close the door using the wall button or remote control.
· When the garage door touches the board, it should reverse immediately.

If the garage door does not reverse, please refer to the manufacturer’s specific instructions for the opener or call a trained garage door technician to make the necessary adjustments.

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2. Check The Photoelectric Safety Sensors

Modern openers use photoelectric sensors near the floor to detect objects in the garage door opening. These sensors are a critical part of garage door opener safety systems. Make sure the sensors are positioned no higher than 6 inches above the floor and remain properly aligned.

If the beam is blocked or interrupted, the garage door should automatically stop or reverse. Clear away any dirt, dust or obstructions that could interfere with the sensors’ performance.

3. Perform A Visual Inspection

Look over the major components of your garage door system, including the springs, lift cables, rollers, hinges, tracks and mounting hardware. A routine garage door inspection helps catch issues early and prevent costly repairs.

If you notice frayed cables, loose hardware or worn components, contact a professional technician. Springs, cables, bottom fixtures and some other components are under extreme tension and should NEVER be handled by homeowners.

4. Check Door Balance

A properly balanced garage door reduces strain on the opener and helps ensure smooth operation. Proper balance is essential for long-term garage door performance and safety.

How to test:

• Close the garage door and disconnect the opener using the emergency release cord. The garage door should stay on the floor.
• Raise the garage door all the way up by hand and it should stay up and about even with the top of the garage door opening.
• Lower the door halfway by hand.
• The door should stay in place.

If the garage door falls or feels unusually heavy, the spring system may need professional adjustment. Homeowners should NEVER try to adjust garage door springs because they can cause serious injury or even death.

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Routine Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Lubricate Moving Parts

Apply a garage-door-approved lubricant to hinges, rollers, bearings and springs to reduce noise and wear.

Tighten Hardware

Check roller brackets, hinges and track bolts periodically and tighten as needed. Do NOT adjust spring hardware or any parts under tension.

Keep Tracks Clean

Remove dust and debris from tracks. Do not apply grease or lubricant to tracks.

Important Garage Door Safety Tips

Garage Door Openers Are Not Toys

Keep remotes out of reach of children and ensure they understand to stay clear of a moving door.

Watch The Door When Closing

Always keep the door in sight until it fully closes.

Mount Wall Controls Properly

They should be within sight of the garage door and out of reach of small children at a minimum height of 5 feet (1.5 m) above floors, landings, steps or any other adjacent walking surface and away from all moving parts of the garage door.

Annual Professional Inspection

A trained technician can inspect spring systems, adjust garage door balance and identify worn components before they become serious issues.

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When To Schedule Service

• Broken or stretched springs
• Frayed cables
• The door feels unusually heavy
• The opener struggles to lift the door
• Safety systems fail testing

Attempting to repair high-tension components on your own can result in serious injury.

If you notice any of these issues or want peace of mind that your system is operating safely, professional service can help keep your garage door running reliably.

Hollywood Crawford has been serving homeowners with professional garage door service in San Antonio and surrounding areas since 1981, delivering trusted expertise and dependable service you can count on.