Signs your garage door is due for a service

Your garage door is probably the biggest moving part in your house. It opens and closes a couple of times a day, every day, and most of us never think about it until it stops working. That's usually when a small niggle has turned into a bigger job.

The good news is that a garage door tends to tell you when something's off. You just need to know what to look and listen for. Here are the signs that your door is due for a service.

1. It's getting louder

A bit of hum from the opener is normal. But if your door has started to grind, squeal, rattle or bang when it moves, something needs attention. Dry rollers, worn hinges and loose hardware are common reasons doors get noisy. A noise that's new or getting worse is worth getting checked before it gets worse.

2. It's slower or jerkier than it used to be

If your door takes longer to open or close, or it shudders and jumps along the way instead of moving smoothly, it's working harder than it should. That extra strain wears out other parts faster.

3. It looks uneven

Stand inside the garage and watch the door as it moves. Does one side seem to lift ahead of the other? Does it sit crooked when it's closed, or leave a gap along the bottom? An uneven door is a sign that something isn't right with how it's moving, and it's one for a technician to look at.

4. It stops, reverses or needs a few goes

A door that stops halfway, bounces back up when it should close, or only responds to the remote on the second or third press is trying to tell you something. Sometimes it's as simple as a dirty sensor lens or a flat remote battery, and those are easy things to check yourself. If the sensors are clean, the batteries are fresh and it's still playing up, it's time to book a visit.

5. You can't remember the last service

This one is easy to miss. If you've lived in the house a few years and can't think of the last time anyone looked over the door, it's probably overdue. Doors that work fine today can still be wearing out where you can't see it.

Why small problems grow

A garage door is a system. The door, tracks, rollers, hinges, opener and safety sensors all work together. When one part gets tired, the others pick up the slack. A squeaky roller or a loose fitting is a quick fix on its own. Left alone, it can lead to a door that's stuck, off track or unsafe, usually at the worst possible time, like when you're running late for work.

What happens at a maintenance visit

A Garage Door Maintenance visit is a proper look over the whole door. A technician checks how the door moves, looks over the tracks, rollers and hinges, tests the opener and its safety features, and tightens or lubricates what needs it.

What to leave to a technician

Some jobs are not for the home handyman. The springs, cables and brackets on a garage door are under serious tension, and they can cause real injury if they're touched or adjusted without the right training and tools. If you think the problem is in one of those parts, don't poke around. Stay clear and call a technician.

A few simple things you can do in the meantime

• Listen to your door each time you use it, so you notice when something changes.

• Keep the tracks clear of leaves, dirt and anything that shouldn't be there.

• Wipe the sensor lenses near the floor with a soft cloth.

• Swap the batteries in your remote if it's become unreliable.

That's about as far as it goes. Anything beyond that is best left to the pros.

Ready for a check-up?

If your door has been louder, slower or a bit unpredictable lately, don't wait for it to stop altogether. Book a Garage Door Maintenance visit online at riseupgaragedoors.com.au and we'll get it looked at.