Put your garage door opener in manual mode and bring your door to a half-open position. If it moves, the balance may be off or your springs may need adjustments.
Issues can arise with your garage door at any time. Scheduling regular maintenance is just as important as making prompt repairs.
When should you perform self-inspections, and when should you call a professional for garage door maintenance service?
At Ingstrup Garage Doors, we encourage you to check on your garage door system’s condition often. When you find problems, we’re here to help.
Regular maintenance is the key to prolonging your garage door’s lifespan, preventing future damage and ensuring security. Services involved in preventive maintenance include:
You should perform monthly preventive maintenance checks between professional appointments. Many tasks are too dangerous for homeowners to complete, but checking on various components of your garage door and opener can alert you to problems before they become severe and costly.
It’s important to schedule annual preventive maintenance for your garage door once a year.

Put your garage door opener in manual mode and bring your door to a half-open position. If it moves, the balance may be off or your springs may need adjustments.
Check your cables for broken strands or other signs of distress. If you see any issues, call a professional immediately. Replacing cables is dangerous, and you should never attempt to do so on your own.
Chipped and cracked rollers require immediate replacement. Inspect your garage door rollers and brackets regularly (every six months) for any signs of wear and tear to prevent operational issues.
Check the seal below your garage door for cracks or gaps. If you feel a draft near the door, you’ll need to replace the bottom astragal seal to keep wind, rain and debris out of your garage.
Lubricating the moving parts in your garage improves their longevity. You’ll need specific kinds of grease for different parts, including white lithium grease for parts on the opener and spray lubricant for overhead springs.
Always remove any debris in the tracks. If your tracks need adjustments, you should call a professional.
Check the door itself for damage. If you catch potential problems early, you may be able to repair your door instead of replacing it.
Performing preventive maintenance on your garage door and opener saves you from costly repairs and inconvenient downtime in the future. Broken springs and cables can cause serious injuries. When you recognize and address minor problems before they become more severe, you help keep your vehicles, belongings and family safe.
Many homeowners use their garage doors multiple times a day, and your door and opener sustain a fair amount of wear and tear from so much use. Keep your garage door system working for decades to come by taking care of it.
saves you costly repairs
Is your garage door system ready for annual maintenance? Trust the professionals at Ingstrup Garage Doors to take care of your family’s garage door with tune-up services in Lansing, MI.
Call (517) 305-8459 or complete our online form to request preventive service today.
Here are some common questions and answers to help you learn more about garage door maintenance services.
Ingstrup recommends scheduling a professional garage door maintenance service once a year. Annual service includes adjusting springs, tightening hardware, lubricating moving parts, and inspecting cables, rollers, and the bottom seal for wear. Between professional visits, you should also perform monthly self-inspections to catch problems before they become costly repairs.
Each month: test your springs by putting the opener in manual mode, lifting the door halfway, and seeing if it holds position (if it moves, springs may be out of balance). Visually inspect cables for fraying or broken strands. Check rollers and brackets for chips or cracks. Inspect the bottom astragal seal for gaps or deterioration. Lubricate all moving parts, but use a garage door-specific lubricant, not WD-40 on springs.
During a professional maintenance visit, our technicians inspect and service the entire door system: springs (adjustment and condition), cables (tension and fraying), rollers and hinges (wear and lubrication), tracks (alignment and debris), the bottom seal, opener operation and safety features including auto-reverse, and all hardware for tightness. We flag anything that needs attention before it escalates.
You can apply a garage door-specific lubricant spray to the springs, but never use WD-40, which can strip protective coatings over time. For cables, a visual inspection is appropriate for homeowners, but leave any hands-on work to a professional, as cables are under significant tension. If you see fraying or broken strands on your cables, call Ingstrup immediately rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit.
Most likely yes. Grinding noises often indicate dry or worn rollers, a misaligned track, or hinges in need of lubrication. Squeaking usually points to springs, hinges, or rollers that need lubrication. These are early warning signs that, if ignored, can lead to larger failures. A maintenance visit can address these issues quickly before they escalate into a spring or cable replacement.
Significantly. Regular lubrication reduces friction and wear on springs, rollers, and cables. Timely hardware tightening prevents track misalignment. Spring adjustments prevent unnecessary strain on the opener. Annual professional service keeps every component operating safely and can add years to the full system’s life before a replacement is needed.