10 Garage Door Maintenance Tips for Maximum Longevity

Keep your garage door in tip-top condition

Two modern garage doors in a residential district
Photo: U. J. Alexander / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Two modern garage doors in a residential district
Photo: U. J. Alexander / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Dan Simms
Written by Dan Simms
Contributing Writer
Updated Mar 13, 2024
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DIY Garage Door Maintenance vs. Hiring a Pro

Regular maintenance can stave off paying for garage door repair costs down the road. You can save money and DIY garage door maintenance if you have the basic tools necessary, including wrenches, brake cleaner, and lubrication.

But you should leave complex and risky garage door fixes to a local garage door repair pro. For example, you should never DIY a repair on the potentially dangerous torsion springs that balance your garage door.

With that being said, you can defer even the simple maintenance we’ve outlined above to a professional if you don’t have the time or tools to get it done yourself.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Garage Door Serviced?

Servicing a garage door can cost as little as nothing if you do it yourself or between $100 to $400 if you hire a pro to fix your garage door for you. A simple garage door tune up involves adjusting the garage door opener, so it opens and closes smoothly, lubricating moving parts, and cleaning the door.

Garage door service might seem unnecessary and expensive, but compared to the cost of replacing the garage door, it’s affordable and recommended.

Read more

DIY Garage Door Maintenance vs. Hiring a Pro

Regular maintenance can stave off paying for garage door repair costs down the road. You can save money and DIY garage door maintenance if you have the basic tools necessary, including wrenches, brake cleaner, and lubrication.

But you should leave complex and risky garage door fixes to a local garage door repair pro. For example, you should never DIY a repair on the potentially dangerous torsion springs that balance your garage door.

With that being said, you can defer even the simple maintenance we’ve outlined above to a professional if you don’t have the time or tools to get it done yourself.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Garage Door Serviced?

Servicing a garage door can cost as little as nothing if you do it yourself or between $100 to $400 if you hire a pro to fix your garage door for you. A simple garage door tune up involves adjusting the garage door opener, so it opens and closes smoothly, lubricating moving parts, and cleaning the door.

Garage door service might seem unnecessary and expensive, but compared to the cost of replacing the garage door, it’s affordable and recommended.

A cottage house with a white garage door
Photo: ucpage / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

DIY Garage Door Maintenance vs. Hiring a Pro

Regular maintenance can stave off paying for garage door repair costs down the road. You can save money and DIY garage door maintenance if you have the basic tools necessary, including wrenches, brake cleaner, and lubrication.

But you should leave complex and risky garage door fixes to a local garage door repair pro. For example, you should never DIY a repair on the potentially dangerous torsion springs that balance your garage door.

With that being said, you can defer even the simple maintenance we’ve outlined above to a professional if you don’t have the time or tools to get it done yourself.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Garage Door Serviced?

Servicing a garage door can cost as little as nothing if you do it yourself or between $100 to $400 if you hire a pro to fix your garage door for you. A simple garage door tune up involves adjusting the garage door opener, so it opens and closes smoothly, lubricating moving parts, and cleaning the door.

Garage door service might seem unnecessary and expensive, but compared to the cost of replacing the garage door, it’s affordable and recommended.

A garage door with a man’s hand holding a remote controller
Photo: Everyday better to do everything you love / Getty Images

DIY Garage Door Maintenance vs. Hiring a Pro

Regular maintenance can stave off paying for garage door repair costs down the road. You can save money and DIY garage door maintenance if you have the basic tools necessary, including wrenches, brake cleaner, and lubrication.

But you should leave complex and risky garage door fixes to a local garage door repair pro. For example, you should never DIY a repair on the potentially dangerous torsion springs that balance your garage door.

With that being said, you can defer even the simple maintenance we’ve outlined above to a professional if you don’t have the time or tools to get it done yourself.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Garage Door Serviced?

Servicing a garage door can cost as little as nothing if you do it yourself or between $100 to $400 if you hire a pro to fix your garage door for you. A simple garage door tune up involves adjusting the garage door opener, so it opens and closes smoothly, lubricating moving parts, and cleaning the door.

Garage door service might seem unnecessary and expensive, but compared to the cost of replacing the garage door, it’s affordable and recommended.

Read more

DIY Garage Door Maintenance vs. Hiring a Pro

Regular maintenance can stave off paying for garage door repair costs down the road. You can save money and DIY garage door maintenance if you have the basic tools necessary, including wrenches, brake cleaner, and lubrication.

But you should leave complex and risky garage door fixes to a local garage door repair pro. For example, you should never DIY a repair on the potentially dangerous torsion springs that balance your garage door.

With that being said, you can defer even the simple maintenance we’ve outlined above to a professional if you don’t have the time or tools to get it done yourself.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Garage Door Serviced?

Servicing a garage door can cost as little as nothing if you do it yourself or between $100 to $400 if you hire a pro to fix your garage door for you. A simple garage door tune up involves adjusting the garage door opener, so it opens and closes smoothly, lubricating moving parts, and cleaning the door.

Garage door service might seem unnecessary and expensive, but compared to the cost of replacing the garage door, it’s affordable and recommended.

Read more
Frequently Asked Questions

You have a couple of options when it comes to lubricant. A silicone-based lubricant is a great choice because it lubricates the door and prevents rust and corrosion from forming. This type of lubricant also lasts a long time and works well in extreme cold and heat, making it ideal for garage doors. Other products you can use include lithium grease and silicone spray. Avoid using heavy, oil-based lubricants, as they can promote debris getting caught up in your garage door tracks.

Since garage door torsion springs have tightly wound coils under massive tension, they can cause serious injury while attempting to service them. A broken spring can also cause the garage to close rapidly, causing injuries. That’s why any adjustments or replacements of a torsion spring should only be conducted by a trained professional.

Extension springs are just as dangerous as torsion springs—especially when they break. These springs can become projectiles and may cause serious injury or property damage.

How long garage doors last depends on the type of doors you buy and how well you care for them. But most often, garage doors will last between 15 and 30 years, on average. You can maximize their life span by performing regular maintenance and inspections and repairing problems immediately. A more robust material, like triple-layer steel garage doors, may even last 25 to 30 years with proper care.

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Learn more about our contributor
Dan Simms
Written by Dan Simms
Contributing Writer
Dan is a writer and property manager and can be found sharing his home improvement tips on sites like EcoWatch and Today’s Homeowner. He loves sharing his years of hands-on experience and love of DIY to help homeowners bring their visions to life.

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