Garage Door Diagnostic Checklist

A standard garage door tune-up covers lubrication of all moving parts (springs, hinges, rollers, and tracks), a balance test, a safety sensor check, limit and force adjustment on the opener, and a visual inspection for worn or damaged components. Most technicians complete a tune-up in 30 to 60 minutes. Parts like worn rollers or frayed cables are replaced separately.

Disconnect the opener by pulling the manual release cord, then lift the door manually to about waist height and let go. A balanced door stays in place with little or no drift. If it falls quickly or shoots upward, the spring tension needs adjustment. Only a trained technician should adjust torsion or extension springs, as they are under high tension.

Standard torsion springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles, which is roughly 7 to 10 years at three to four open/close cycles per day. Signs that replacement is needed include a gap in the coil, a door that falls faster than normal, the opener straining to lift the door, or the door sitting crooked when closed. Replace both springs at the same time even if only one has broken.

Yes. Since 1993, federal law requires all residential garage door openers sold in the United States to include auto-reverse safety features, including photo eye sensors that stop and reverse the door when an obstruction is detected. If a door does not reverse when an object is placed in its path, the sensors must be repaired or replaced before the door is used.

Yes. Claver stores the full service history for every customer address, including parts replaced and notes from each visit. You can set automatic reminders so clients receive a maintenance alert at whatever interval you choose, typically once a year, without any manual follow-up on your part.