Guides and Tips

The Secret to Affordable Garage Door Tune-Ups That Save You Money

April 12, 2025
8:06 pm

Out of all the appliances and systems in your home, your garage door is often taken for granted. Tune-Ups for Your Garage Door are Very Important When it comes to your garage door regular tune-ups can keep you from having a costly repair to avoid.
We do not try to upsell you unnecessary items, instead, we specialize in cost-effective tune-ups tailored towards keeping your garage door working at its peak without spending all your hard-earned money. So this is a blog post where we share with you the secret to getting the cheapest garage door tune-ups and then eventually cost savings over time.

The Importance of Getting A Regular Garage Door Tune-Up!

Similar to your automobile, your garage door is made up of parts that need cleaning and maintenance at regular intervals for proper operation. These pieces all wear down over time which creates an audible, inefficient symphony until finally breaking completely. During a garage door tune-up, we double-check and do maintenance on all essential components including springs, rollers, tracks, and openers

Routine tune-ups can
Prevent emergency repairs
Keep your garage door running for as long as possible
Enhance door safety and functionality
Reducing the likelihood of expensive damage fixes saves you money.

The inexpensive garage door tune-ups can keep your garage doors healthy and save you from expensive repair costs in the future.

1. Lubrication of Moving Parts

Regular lubrication of the moving parts is one of the simplest and low-cost maintenance steps you can follow. Without lubrication, metal-to-metal contact increases resulting in friction, rust, and an increase of abrasion. Keeping the springs, rollers and even the tracks lubricated prevents them from wearing out too soon and you have to replace them with a much more expensive part.

What to do:

Springs, hinges, and rollers — A silicone-based spray lubricant can be used on the springs and hinges.

What to avoid;

Do not use grease or oil-based lubricants, they will only attract dust and dirt.

Expense:

A can of silicone-based lube is $10-$20 and lasts through several use applications

2. Tightening Hardware

Over time, the nuts, bolts, and screws holding your garage door system together can become loose from regular usage. The loose hardware can cause misalignment, extra wear, and worst case damage in the other sections of the system. Adjustments like tightening all the nuts and bolts during a tune-up are simple but, oddly enough, your garage door is only as solid as the hardware holding it together.

What to do:

Look over the door and track system for any nuts and bolts, including the ones that connect the rail with brackets. Wrench them tight

Always keep in mind to maintain the brackets which hold the tracks and also the roller equipment.

Price: If you have the tools already, this will be free

3. Inspect and Clean the Tracks

Without adequate maintenance, dirt, and debris can accumulate in the door tracks over time and affect how smoothly the rollers move. A key part of any garage door tune-up is cleaning the tracks and making sure they are properly aligned. A door that rubs on its track or is filthy might get stuck and function badly, producing an even larger problem in the future.

What to do:

Wiping the tracks down with a clean, damp cloth to sweep away any dirt, dust, or debris.

Look for dents or crimps in the rails and make sure they are straight. If you see considerable damage, call in a professional to make the necessary adjustments or do new installations

Price: Free to clean; and $125-250 for professional alignment if necessary.

4. Test the Garage Door Balance

Imbalance is the leading cause of strata on opener systems and therefore leads to a higher rate of garage door services. Balancing your garage door is as important of a preventive maintenance task as anything else, and it will help your garage door operate relatively smoothly with less strain on the motor or springs.

What to do:

Pull the emergency release handle to disconnect the opener. Open the door manually halfway. If it returns upright, that means the stand is well-balanced. If it seems unbalanced, check the springs on the door.
Call the experts at Affordable Garage Door Repair to come and balance your door correctly by adjusting the spring- this is something that could be hazardous for homeowners to do unprofessionally.
Cost: Free to have it looked at; $75-$150 for a pro spring adjustment

5. Check the Cables and Springs

Both garage door cables and springs are two critical components that work together to open and close your garage door. Eventually, these components can degrade or wear out altogether with full-out catastrophic failure. This becomes the job for a professional to replace cables or springs but routine inspection will allow you to capture problems at earlier stages before it results in costlier repairs.

What to do:

Examine the cables for weak spots or strings popping out. Look out for any gaps and rust on the springs to find out if they are getting worn out.
Take the time to check your cables or springs, and if anything is off, call Affordable Garage Door Repair to replace them before they break
Cost: Free to have inspected; $150-$350 for professional cable or spring replacement.

6. Test the Auto-Reverse Feature

Auto-Reverse System – This feature allows the garage door to mechanically sense objects, pets, or people in the way of a closing door; preventing crush injuries and property damage. Make sure that you return this test at regular intervals, your garage door is functioning safely and this avoids accidents as well as expensive liability claims

What to do:

Place an object like a block of wood under the garage exercise and attempt to close it

Auto-Reverse Not Performing: If an object is sensed in the way of your automatic garage door, it should reverse immediately; if it does not do that, your auto-reverse function may need to be adjusted — and your safety sensors might just need a good cleaning or realignment.

If you still experiencing a problem… have someone check your sensors and make the proper adjustments for you.

Free to test; professional sensor adjustment/repair is typically $100- $200.

7. Replace Weather Stripping

Garage Door weather stripping that’s located at the bottom helps protect your garage from dirt, drafts, and pests. With time the seal can crack or wear down, leading to drafts and higher energy bills. Worn weather stripping — Replacing worn weather stripping is a cost-effective way to improve insulation and protect your garage from adverse weather conditions

What to do:

Pull off the old weather stripping and replace it with new rubber or vinyl strips. Be sure to measure your door before you buy so that you can get the right fit.

Expense: Weather stripping usually runs between $10 to $30 as per garage door size.

8. Book Professional Inspection Once Per Year

Although homeowners can take care of many maintenance tasks, it is advisable to have a professional garage door technician perform an annual tune-up to catch potential issues before they become costly repairs. A trusted Pro will inspect your entire garage door system, adjust as needed, and verify that all parts are in good working order.
Affordable Garage Door Repair provides commercial-grade garage door tune-up services that will help keep your systems in good working order for many years of service. The best way to ensure your garage door serves you well in the long term is to get regular, professional tune-ups.
What it costs: Tune-up services cost $75–a year up to about $150 a year and vary depending on the level of door maintenance required.

Conclusion

The key to avoiding costly repairs and extending the life of your garage window is simple and inexpensive – regular maintenance. With these preventive maintenance tips, you can help your garage door stay reliable in the long term, save money on expensive repairs, and keep your home safe and sound ointments.
One of the easiest and most recommended annual garage door maintenance procedures to perform on your garage doors is a simple tuneup. From a simple tune-up and lubrication to comprehensive system checks, our expert team delivers the best quality service at a price that works for you. Give us a call today to schedule your tune-up and that way you will see just how simple it is to keep up with and save some funds also.