Garage doors lead pretty simple lives. Up, down, up, down, over and over, year after year. Until suddenly they don’t work the way they should. Fortunately, that simple function usually makes for relatively simple repairs. Sometimes, though, even reliable old garage doors bite the dust or need major repairs. If your garage door is behaving well at this moment, you can probably keep it working that way almost indefinitely; if you follow a simple inspection and maintenance routine. These same tips may also correct problems that are just beginning to appear.

Examine the rollers and tracks on the garage door. If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned them, now is the time; to clean the rollers and tracks with a good brushing and to lubricate the rollers and axles. The bearings on rollers can also wear out; replace any rollers that don’t operate smoothly. Tighten the hardware. The tracks that guide the rollers on an overhead garage door; are assembled in sections and attached to the garage with brackets. Makes sure the sections are well secured and that the screws and bolts that hold the brackets are tight.