Garage Door Tune-Up and Maintenance in Plain City and Columbus

What a garage door tune-up includes

A tune-up is a full inspection and adjustment of the door and opener. The technician works through the system from top to bottom and tells you what is in good shape and what is wearing.

• Lubrication of the springs, rollers, hinges and bearings with a garage door lubricant.
• Balance test with the opener disconnected, to confirm the springs are carrying the door’s weight.
• Tightening of hinge bolts, track brackets and other hardware that loosens from vibration.
• Inspection of the lift cables, drums and bottom brackets for fraying and rust.
• Roller check for worn bearings, flat spots and cracked wheels.
• Track check for alignment, dents and loose mounting.
• Safety sensor alignment and an auto-reverse test of the opener.
• Opener check: force and travel settings, chain or belt tension, and the manual release.
• A look at the weather seal along the bottom and sides of the door.

Why the balance test and safety checks matter

The balance test tells you the most about a door. With the opener disconnected, a balanced door lifts easily and stays put when you stop it halfway. If it drifts down or feels heavy, the springs have lost tension and the opener has been making up the difference, which shortens the life of both.

The safety checks protect people and pets. The photo-eye sensors near the floor should stop and reverse the door when the beam is broken. The opener should also reverse when the closing door meets an object. Both are tested, and the settings are corrected if the door does not respond as it should.

Signs your door is due for maintenance

You do not have to wait for a breakdown. Things to notice: the door has become louder, it shakes or hesitates as it moves, it closes harder than it used to, it looks uneven when partly open, or you cannot remember the last time anyone looked at it.

As a general guide, a residential door should be serviced about once a year, and more often if it is your main way in and out of the house. A door that opens and closes many times a day wears faster.

What you can do yourself and what to leave to a technician

Between visits, there is useful work a homeowner can do safely. Look and listen as the door runs. Wipe the sensor lenses. Keep the tracks clear of debris. Test the auto-reverse by laying a piece of lumber flat on the floor under the door. The door should reverse when it touches the board.

Do not adjust the springs, the cables, the cable drums or the bottom brackets. Those parts are under high tension, and loosening the wrong bolt can cause serious injury. Avoid putting grease in the tracks as well, since it collects dirt and makes rollers slide instead of roll.

If the tune-up finds a worn part

A tune-up sometimes turns up a part that is close to failing, such as a fraying cable or a roller with a failed bearing. The technician shows you the problem and explains the price before doing any repair. Nothing extra is done without your say, and there are no hidden charges. Any parts we replace carry a 3-year warranty.

Tune-ups are done by A1’s own trained employees. Call (614) 500-4377 or send a request through the form on this site to get on the schedule. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM.