By keeping to a regular maintenance schedule, you can reduce the likelihood of accidents and repair bills on your garage doors. Make a list of things to do twice a year or have a tech from Diligent Overhead Door do a 21-point inspection. To make it even easier, perform garage door maintenance at the same time you do other home maintenance, such as taking in the hose in the Fall.

Noises - Listen to your garage door open and close. It should be reasonably quiet. Hearing scraping or grating sounds is a cause for investigation.

Screws and hinges - Tighten loose screws. The everyday operation of your garage door results in quite a bit of vibration, which over time can loosen screws and hardware. Take a few minutes to check visible screws and tighten if needed. lubricate hinges with Garage Door Lube.

Sensors - Test the sensors. Open the garage door and place something on the garage floor that is in the way of the door. Close the garage door and watch to see that it stops when it comes close to the object. Some doors have an auto-reverse feature that causes the door to go back up when it touches that object. Make sure the sensors are aligned—their light is usually on when they are working correctly.

Tracks - Clean the tracks. Use a ladder and take a look inside the tracks. Be sure they are free of debris, and there is no rust. If it seems dusty,  you might use the air compressor to blow it out. Using a level, make sure they are straight, and the vertical parts of the garage door are plumb. Clean them out with carburetor spray or brake cleaner rather than a lubricant, which could cause the door to slip.

Rollers - Take a look at the rollers. If they are at all worn, chipped, or cracked, they should be replaced for optimal performance. You can replace all rollers that are not attached to a cable. Usually, the bottom rollers are connected to cables, and those should be replaced by a professional due to the high tension on those wires. Rollers should be replaced every 5–7 years, so make a note of the last time they were replaced on your maintenance schedule.

Pulleys and cables - Check the pulleys and cables, but do not work on them. If you see signs of wear and tear such as broken strands, call a professional. These are high-tension parts and should only be worked on by a highly-trained professional.

Chains and belts – Tighten up any sags in the chain or belt.

Weatherstripping - Check the weather stripping and replace it if needed. It shouldn't be flapping in the breeze but should still be nice and tight against the surface.

Visual inspection - Inspect the door for rust, peeling paint, and other damage. If the door needs paint, prepare the surface according to the type of door (wood, steel, fiberglass, or aluminum) and repaint. Remove rust by sanding. If there is no damage to be repaired, clean the door with the appropriate cleaner.

Door balance - The door balance should be tested to make sure it’s working correctly. Release the automatic opener and open the door manually. Halfway up, let go; it should stay there without moving. It should also require little force to lift.

Batteries and bulbs – Unplug the opener to make sure the backup battery is working and replace it if needed. Check the batteries in your remote.