You read the title of this blog post and may wonder if Smart Garage Door Service is just another company trying to make an extra buck off of Garage Door Tune-Up services. I don’t blame you for wondering! In our effort to make sure your Garage Doors and Openers last for years to come and to avoid any Garage Door Repair issues that may result in an emergency call to have us come to your home to fix a problem, we wanted to write this blog post to describe in detail what is included in every Garage Door Tune-Up and how much such a service costs. More importantly, we wanted to explain to you whether you really need such a service for your Garage Doors in Denver.
What Is a Garage Door Tune-Up?
A garage door tune-up is a very comprehensive service that covers all parts of a garage door system. This is not a repair service, i.e. we are not coming to your home to fix a broken part. Our service is proactive, meaning we are coming to your home to check for any potential problems before they may cause a failure before they occur. We will also extend the life of any part of your garage door system that is nearing the end of its life. We can also help make sure that your garage door is operating safely and efficiently.
Here is what we include in every tune-up at Smart Garage Door Service:
Full System Inspection
As a part of a standard tune up, we perform a full system inspection of the garage door system. A full system inspection for garage door systems involves a visual inspection of all components and an assessment of proper function. Items we look at on a garage door system include the springs for wear and tear including rust and uneven spring tension, cables for fraying and kinking as well as improper seating on the cable drums, rollers for cracks and wear including flat spots on the wheel as well as worn bearings in the roller, garage door tracks for proper alignment as well as damage to the track including if the track is not properly secured to the surrounding garage wall, hinges for wear as well as proper function, the bottom bracket and cable drums for wear and proper cable winding, the garage door opener for proper force setting, travel limits and for proper operation. We also check the safety sensors for proper alignment and for proper cleaning and operation. Additionally we inspect the weatherstripping and bottom seal of the garage door for any gaps, cracks and deterioration. Last but not least we test the balance of the door and proper operation of the door through multiple test open and closes of the door.
Hardware Tightening
While running through a list of all the parts on your garage door, we will also go through and tighten any loose bolts, nuts, or other types of fasteners. This is one of the more time consuming aspects of a garage door tune up, taking around 15 to 20 minutes to complete for a single garage door. However, the difference that this can make to the operation and sound of your door is quite noticeable.
Professional Lubrication
Our experienced and professional technicians will provide a thorough lubrication of the garage door system’s moving parts. The proper lubrication of a garage door system will help extend the life of the doors, maintain safe and efficient operation, and ensure reliable service. Smart Garage Door Service uses only the best garage door lubricants, designed specifically for garage doors and are suitable for use in Colorado’s varying temperatures. This lubricant will not thin out in warm weather and will maintain its viscosity in cold weather to provide long lasting protection.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to lubricate their garage door is to use WD-40. Although it will provide a temporary solution to any squeaks or other noises on your door, the WD-40 will also strip away any existing lubricant on the parts and will evaporate shortly. This can actually leave your garage door worse off than when you started. Smart Garage Door Service uses professional grade lubricant for all of our maintenance services. This lubricant is specifically designed for garage door systems and is able to provide long lasting lubrication to all of the moving parts.
Balance Test and Spring Adjustment
When performing a garage door tune-up we like to start by “balancing” the door. First, we unplug the garage door opener and then manually open the door to the waist high position. Holding the door there for a moment and then releasing it will tell us if the door is properly balanced. If the door stays in place it is balanced. If it drops down then the springs do not have enough tension and the opener is working too hard. If it starts to go back up then the springs have too much tension.
As we test the balance of your door we can make any necessary adjustments to the spring(s) to ensure proper balance. Many opener failures are caused by doors that are not properly balanced. This is why it is so important for us to check the spring(s) and make any necessary adjustments during our tune-up.
Opener Force and Limit Adjustment
We check and adjust the proper force settings on the garage door opener and make sure the travel limits are set correctly. If the opener’s force setting is set too low, the door will reverse for no reason. If the force setting is set too high, the safety reversal system will be compromised. The travel limits on the garage door opener determine how far the door will open and close. If the door does not close all the way or is rubbing against the floor, it is putting excessive stress on the garage door opener motor.
Safety Sensor Test
We check and test both safety sensors to make sure they are properly aligned and free of debris. After that we test the door’s auto-reverse function by placing a 2×4 on the floor in the door’s path and checking to see if the door reverses when it hits the 2×4. This is a very important test to ensure your family’s safety. It is a requirement by the federal government that all new garage door openers have this feature.
Written Report
The Garage Door Repair Pro employee that performs your garage door tune-up will complete the work and then provide you with a written report, containing a summary of the inspection. The report will identify components that are in good shape, parts that may need to be repaired or replaced within the next year, and parts that will need to be repaired or replaced immediately in order to prevent serious damage. In addition, the report will list the cost for the repair of any parts that need to be repaired, and that cost will be applied to the total amount for the repair if you decide to have the work done during the same service call.
How Much Does a Tune-Up Cost in Denver?
Standard price for a single garage door residential garage door tune up: $69 – $149. Discounts available for two and three car garages.
Is a Garage Door Tune-Up Actually Worth It?
So what does a Garage Door Tune-up do for you? It’s not a magic bullet and will not extend the life of a poorly maintained or very old door for another decade or so. What a well maintained door in average age is is about 10-15 years. Annual tune-ups can extend spring life and greatly reduce the chances of needing an emergency repair. Also, extended opener life – a garage door opener averages $350-$600 to replace. Many emergency repairs are completely preventable if you do annual Garage Door Tune-ups. We give you a written report for each tune-up done outlining what was found, including items that need attention soon and items that are failing and require immediate repair with estimated cost for repairs as well. We apply the service call fee to any repair that we do during the initial service call.
By doing a garage door tune-up you will extend the life of your garage door springs. Many people think that the springs on a garage door will last forever. That is not true. The springs on your garage door are under a lot of stress. In fact, the springs on your garage door are the single most stressed part of your garage door. That is why it is so important to make sure the springs are properly lubricated and are at the right amount of tension. By doing a garage door tune-up, you will extend the life of your springs by thousands of cycles.
Prevent Emergency Repairs: The most expensive garage door repair is an emergency repair. A spring breaks on a Sunday evening while you are leaving for an early trip the next morning. A cable breaks and your car is trapped in the garage. By performing regular inspections we can find worn parts before they fail.
By keeping your door in balance and your moving parts well lubricated you can extend the life of your opener. If your door is out of balance or if the moving parts are dry and the force setting is off, the opener will have to work much harder to open and close the door. This can greatly reduce the life of the opener. Openers cost anywhere from $350 to $600 to replace. Smart Garage Door Service charges $69 for a residential single door garage door tune-up. That is an expense that can be extended for several years.
You’ll have a clear picture of what to expect from your garage door’s future, including which parts will be nearing the end of their life and will need to be replaced. This is valuable information for homeowners to have, as knowing what to expect ahead of time will help you to be prepared for the inevitable repair that will be needed.
How Often Do Denver Homeowners Need a Tune-Up?
For most residential garage doors a yearly tune-up is suggested. The best time to have your garage door serviced is in the fall just before the weather gets too cold. During the cold weather the springs are under more stress and the lubricant can become too thick.
For garages that are used frequently, like a primary entry for a home with lots of traffic, Smart Garage Door Service would recommend a tune-up every 6 to 12 months. For example, if you open and close your garage door 6 to 10 times per day, a twice per year tune-up would be best for you.
Whether you can remember when your garage door was last serviced or not, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and have a smart Garage Door Service technician come out to perform a garage door tune-up. Typically the cost of a garage door tune-up is less than half the cost of repair for the vast majority of garage door repairs that could have been prevented with regular scheduled maintenance.
Smart Garage Door Service provides same day garage door tune-ups all throughout the Denver Metro area. With many years of garage door maintenance and repair experience in Denver, the team at Smart Garage Door Service will be able to assist with any questions or issues you may have.
