10 Essential Commercial Garage Door Maintenance Tips for Georgia Businesses
Running a business in Georgia involves a massive juggling act of countless items, and the last thing you need to worry about is a malfunctioning garage door. A commercial garage door is more than a mere convenience; it provides additional security, a functional part of your daily operations, and a curb appeal factor, and often the first impression people get of your business. This is a perfect reason to make garage door maintenance a top priority. In this post, our garage door maintenance experts at Perimeter Garage Doors discuss ten commercial garage door maintenance tips to help you avoid costly repairs, minimize downtime, and extend the lifespan of your garage door.
#1. Schedule Regular Inspections
Preventive maintenance is the best strategy. Don’t wait until something breaks before addressing the issue. One of the easiest ways to keep your garage door in perfect working order is to schedule regular inspections. Think of it like a tune-up for your car. You wouldn’t wait for your vehicle to break down before taking it to the mechanic, right? The same approach should be applied to garage door tune-ups.
Regular garage door inspections let you catch small issues before they turn into bigger, more expensive problems. A trained technician will perform a thorough inspection of springs, cables, rollers, and other components for wear and tear. They’ll also look for anything that could affect the door’s performance. These inspections are relatively quick and can save you a lot of time in the future. It’s best to aim for at least once every six months.
#2. Keep Moving Parts Lubricated
This one’s easy, but it makes a huge difference. Just as your car needs oil to keep running smoothly, your garage door needs lubrication to operate smoothly. Without proper lubrication, all moving parts, such as rollers, springs, and tracks, will eventually begin grinding, leading to unnecessary wear and tear and eventually a malfunctioning garage door.
Lubricating your door is simple. You don’t have to go overboard, but routinely adding a little oil or silicone lubricant to the rollers, springs, and tracks will help extend the life of your garage door. You also want to avoid grease, as it tends to attract dirt and dust, which can clog the tracks. This can be an easy DIY task, or you can have a professional handle it during your regular inspection. Just remember to make it a part of your routine garage door maintenance plan.
#3. Check and Tighten Hardware
With so many moving parts, things can loosen over time. Nuts, bolts, and screws all tend to loosen up due to vibrations and the constant opening and closing of your garage door. This can result in rattling noises, misalignment, or even parts coming off.
Make a mental note to set aside a few minutes every couple of months to check and tighten the hardware, if needed. It’s a small but significant task. If parts become too loose, they can cause serious damage to the system, and you’ll end up with an even bigger repair bill.
Make sure you check things like bolts on door tracks, roller brackets, and the hardware that connects the door to the opener. If you’re unsure of how to do this safely or if the bolts are hard to reach, it’s best to schedule a garage door tune-up and have a professional ensure your garage is in perfect working order.
#4. Test the Balance of the Door
An unbalanced garage door can cause unnecessary strain on the opener and other components. If the door is unbalanced, too heavy on one side, or not lifting evenly, this can cause the opener motor to burn out faster and lead to premature spring breakage.
To check the balance of your door, first close it completely, then disconnect it from the opener. Next, try to lift the door manually. It should lift smoothly and stay open about halfway. If your garage door doesn’t stay in place or is difficult to lift, it indicates the door isn’t properly balanced and requires an adjustment. It’s important to remember that balancing the door is not a DIY job. Tinkering with the springs or cables can be extremely dangerous, and it’s highly advisable to leave this to an experienced maintenance technician.
#5. Inspect Rollers for Wear and Tear
Rollers are one of the most important components of your commercial garage door. They help your door open and close smoothly and reduce friction as it moves along the tracks. Over time, rollers can become worn out or damaged, causing the door to move unevenly or make loud noises.
To inspect the rollers, look for cracks, chips, or flat spots. If they look worn out, it’s time to replace them. Some rollers need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years, while others can last much longer, depending on usage. If you’re unsure, contact us to schedule a garage door inspection.
Pro tip: If your door makes a lot of noise when it’s moving, worn-out rollers are often the culprit. Replacing them will make a huge difference in the noise level.
#6. Examine and Maintain the Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping can often be an overlooked detail, but it plays a big role in keeping your building safe, secure, and energy-efficient. In Georgia, we see all kinds of weather, including a lot of hot, humid days. Weatherstripping helps keep out rain, snow, dust, and debris, while also helping prevent unwelcome pests from getting inside and causing damage. Properly sealing your garage also helps regulate temperature, preventing skyrocketing utility bills.
First, inspect the weatherstripping around the bottom of the door. Over time, it can crack, tear, or begin to deteriorate from exposure to elements. If you notice any damage, this means your garage door likely won’t seal properly, leaving your business exposed to the outside.
Replacing weatherstripping can be a relatively simple DIY project, but some may find it to be a more complex job involving commercial garage doors. If you need support, connect with our maintenance team at Perimeter Garage Doors today when you call (678) 785-4219.
#7. Keep Tracks Clean and Aligned
The tracks on your garage door are essential for smoothly guiding the rollers and ensuring the door opens and closes properly. Dirty tracks can cause the door to get stuck or lift unevenly. It’s a good idea to inspect your tracks regularly, ensuring they’re free of dirt, debris, and grease buildup. If you notice any of these, use a soft cloth or a broom to clear the area.
If you observe any dents or bends in the tracks, they require immediate attention. Tracks that aren’t properly aligned can result in a stuck or jammed door and cause significant damage to the rollers. If you’re not confident you can align the tracks yourself, or if they're too damaged, it’s best to call in a professional. This repair needs to be done carefully and correctly to avoid damaging the garage door.
#8. Test Auto-Reverse Safety Features
Every commercial garage door should have an auto-reverse feature that stops the door from closing if something is in its path. This is a crucial safety feature that prevents accidents and damage. It’s also required by law in many areas, and it’s important to perform regular checks to ensure proper detection and function. Performing a test of the auto-reverse feature is something you can do yourself, and it only takes a few minutes.
To test the auto-reverse function, place a small object like a block of wood in the door’s path. Close the door and make sure the door reverses when it reaches the object. If it doesn’t automatically reverse, the sensor needs to be adjusted or replaced. Contact a garage door maintenance professional to have this repaired ASAP, as this is a safety hazard. Taking prompt action can help avoid injury or damage.
#9. Maintain the Garage Door Opener
It’s important to keep your garage door opener in good working order. The opener is the heart of your commercial garage door system. Without it, you can’t open or close the door, which can create a big issue for any business. If you notice any unusual sounds or if your door is slow to open or close, it might be time to call in a maintenance tech for an inspection.
Begin by checking the batteries in the remote control. If the door isn’t opening smoothly, make sure the opener’s settings haven’t been accidentally changed. Also, make sure to clean the opener’s sensor and ensure there’s no dust or debris blocking it. Additionally, the opener motor might occasionally require lubrication and is included in a commercial garage door tune-up.
#10. Schedule Professional Maintenance Annually
Even if you're keeping up with basic garage door care, there's still a lot that can go unnoticed. Having professional maintenance done once a year is a great way to catch issues that might slip through the cracks. A trained technician will perform a thorough commercial garage door inspection, checking components such as springs, cables, the opener, and hard-to-reach parts.
They are trained to spot issues that aren’t obvious to the naked eye, such as wear on the cables, rust on the springs, or slight misalignments that could lead to future problems. Plus, they’ll make any necessary adjustments to ensure everything is running smoothly, like tweaking spring tension or aligning the tracks.
Contact Perimeter for Garage Door Maintenance and Repairs
Keeping your commercial garage door in tip-top shape doesn’t have to be complicated. Investing a little TLC can keep your door operating smoothly, extend its lifespan, and keep your business running without a hitch. By following these tips, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your garage door is good to go.
Regular maintenance is vital for avoiding bigger issues down the road. At Perimeter Garage Doors, serving West Georgia, you can count on us for all things related to your commercial garage door needs, from installation and repairs to maintenance. There’s a reason we’ve been voted Best Of Georgia for three straight years! We offer 24/7 service to keep your garage door running smoothly and efficiently, just like your business! Call us today at (678) 785-4219 to schedule your tune-up or repair.

