A tune-up
- The door works, but it's noisy, slow or jerky.
- It has been about a year since anyone checked it.
- We check, adjust, lubricate and test, then tell you about anything worn.
Maintenance · Tune-Up & Safety Check
Garage Door Tune-Up & Safety Check in Atlanta
A garage door used about four times a day opens and closes more than a thousand times a year, and Atlanta's heat and humidity wear on its springs, rollers and opener. A tune-up helps keep the door balanced and quiet, and can catch worn parts before they leave your car stuck. Swift Lift Garage Door's experienced technicians check, adjust and lubricate your door and opener across metro Atlanta.
Already stuck? If the door won't lift, feels very heavy, hangs crooked or has a loose cable, that's a repair, not a tune-up. Don't use the door, and call (470) 257-7192.
Our phones are answered 24/7. Same-day service on most repairs; emergencies usually within about 2 hours.
The Checklist
What does a garage door tune-up include?
A tune-up covers the whole door and the opener, not just a squeaky hinge. The technician checks the door's balance, looks over the springs, cables, rollers, hinges and tracks, lubricates the moving parts, tightens loose hardware, checks the opener's settings and tests the safety reverse.
- Door balance. With the opener disconnected, the technician checks that the springs hold the door's weight evenly. An unbalanced door wears out the opener and the springs.
- Springs and cables. A close look at the springs, lift cables, drums and bottom brackets for rust, gaps and fraying.
- Rollers, hinges and tracks. Worn or cracked rollers, loose hinges, and tracks that are out of line or have loose brackets.
- Lubrication. The moving metal parts that need it, such as hinges, roller bearings and springs, get a lubricant made for garage doors.
- Hardware. Hinge, bracket and track bolts that work loose as the door runs are tightened.
- Opener settings. The technician checks the opener's chain, belt or screw drive and its force and travel settings, so the door closes all the way without pushing too hard.
- Safety reverse. The photo-eye sensors and the opener's automatic reverse are tested, so the door stops and goes back up when something is in its way.
- Bottom seal. The weather seal along the bottom of the door is checked for gaps, cracks and flattening.
- A written price for anything worn. If a part is worn, the technician shows you and gives you a written price to replace it. Nothing is replaced without your OK.
A tune-up services and adjusts the parts that are still good. If a part needs replacing, the price comes in writing first.
Signs to Watch For
When does a garage door need a tune-up?
Book a tune-up when it has been about a year since the last one, or sooner if you notice any of these signs.
- New noises. Grinding, squealing or scraping when the door moves.
- Jerky or slow movement. The door shakes, hesitates, or moves more slowly than it used to.
- A struggling opener. The motor strains, or the door reverses for no clear reason.
- Rust. Rust on the springs, cables or hinges, which Atlanta's humid summers speed up.
- A worn bottom seal. Light or rainwater gets in under the closed door.
If the door won't lift, feels very heavy or hangs crooked, or a cable is hanging loose, that's not a tune-up job. Stop using the door and see broken spring repair, cable repair or off-track door repair, or call (470) 257-7192.
How Often
How often should a garage door be serviced?
About once a year is a good rule of thumb for a home door that's used every day. If the garage is your main way in and out, or the door runs many times a day, think about every six months. Atlanta's heat and humidity speed up rust and dry out rollers and bearings, so try not to go much longer than a year.
Tune-Up or Repair?
What's the difference between a tune-up and a repair?
A tune-up is for a door that still works but is noisy, stiff or due for a check. A repair is for a door that has stopped working properly, and it usually needs new parts.
A repair
- A loud bang, and now the door is very heavy or won't lift: see broken spring repair.
- A cable is loose or snapped: see cable repair.
- The door hangs crooked or came out of its track: see off-track door repair.
- The opener won't run the door: see opener repair.
Between Visits
What can you safely do between tune-ups?
Watch, listen and keep things clear. Leave the springs, cables, drums, bottom brackets and tracks to a technician. They carry the door's weight, the springs are under high tension, and a mistake can cause serious injury.
- Look, don't touch. With the door closed, look from the floor for a gap in a spring's coil or loose or broken cable strands. Don't stand under an open door to look. If you see either, stop using the door and call.
- Listen. A new grinding or banging noise is worth a call before it turns into a breakdown.
- Keep the sensors clear. Keep the two photo-eye sensors near the floor clean, and keep the path under the door clear.
- Watch the safety reverse. If the door ever doesn't reverse when something is in its way, stop using the opener and call (470) 257-7192.
Pricing
What does a garage door tune-up cost?
We don't list prices online. The technician gives you the price in writing before starting the tune-up. If a part is worn and needs replacing, you get a written price for that first, and nothing is added without your OK. Our guide to garage door repair cost in Atlanta explains what drives repair prices across the metro.
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a garage door tune-up include?
The technician checks the door's balance; looks over the springs, cables, rollers, hinges and tracks; lubricates the moving parts; tightens loose hardware; checks the opener's settings; and tests the safety reverse. If something is worn, you get a written price before anything is replaced.
How often should I have my garage door tuned up?
About once a year for a home door used every day, and more often if the garage is your main entrance or the door runs many times a day. Atlanta's heat and humidity wear parts faster, so try not to go much longer than a year.
Will a tune-up make my garage door quieter?
Often, yes. Dry hinges and rollers and loose hardware cause a lot of squeaking and rattling, and a tune-up deals with those. If the noise comes from worn rollers or a failing opener part, we show you and give you a written price to replace it.
Can I tune up my garage door myself?
Only the simple parts. You can keep the area under the door clear, keep the photo-eye sensors clean, and watch and listen for warning signs. Leave the springs, cables, drums, bottom brackets and tracks to a technician. They carry the door's weight, the springs are under high tension, and a mistake can cause serious injury.
How much does a garage door tune-up cost?
We don't list prices online. The technician gives you the price in writing before starting, and if a part needs replacing, you get a written price for that first. Nothing is added without your OK. Call (470) 257-7192.
Is a tune-up enough if my garage door is already broken?
No. If the door won't lift, feels very heavy, hangs crooked or has a loose cable, it needs a repair, not a tune-up. Stop using the door and call (470) 257-7192. Our phones are answered 24/7.
Noisy, slow or overdue? Book a tune-up.
Phones answered 24/7 · Free written estimates · Insured
Same-day service on most repairs; emergencies usually within about 2 hours.
Booking online? Our dispatcher will call you back as soon as possible; if it's urgent, call (470) 257-7192 now.