Printable checklist
21-Point Garage Door Safety Checklist
Start with the door closed and inspect the visible parts without touching the hardware. If a spring or cable is broken, or the door is crooked or unstable, stop and call a technician. Follow your opener manual for any operating or safety test.
Visual inspection (door closed)
- Door panels are not dented, cracked, or rotting at the bottom edge.
- Weather seals at the bottom and sides of the door look intact, no daylight visible from inside the closed garage.
- Springs across the top of the door are continuous (no two-inch gap that signals a break).
- Cables on each side are smooth, no fraying, no rust streaks.
- Rollers in the tracks are not visibly worn flat or missing chunks.
- Tracks are plumb and parallel, no obvious bends or kinks.
- All hinges and bracket bolts look snug, no obvious loose hardware.
Operation test (door cycling)
- Door opens smoothly without binding or jerking.
- Door closes smoothly and reaches the floor without reversing or pausing.
- Opener motor sounds steady, not straining or grinding.
- Door is reasonably quiet, no rattling pictures off the wall above.
- Remote works from inside the car at a normal distance.
- Wall button works.
- Keypad works (if you have one).
Safety tests (do these monthly)
- Photo eye test: Follow the sensor test in your opener manual. Use an object, never a body part, and stay out of the door's path. Stop using the opener if the test fails.
- Auto-reverse test: Follow the reversal test in your opener manual. Many models use a 2x4 laid flat beneath the open door and must reverse on contact. If the test fails, stop using the opener and call a technician.
- Manual release test: Read the release instructions in your opener manual first. Only attempt this with the door fully closed and no visible damage. Do not force a heavy or binding door; have a technician check it.
Maintenance (twice a year)
- Follow the door manufacturer's lubrication instructions and use the specified product. Leave spring and cable work to a technician.
- Note loose hinges or brackets for a technician. Do not loosen, adjust, or remove spring, cable, or bottom-bracket hardware.
- Wipe debris out of the tracks with a dry cloth.
- Check the sensor lenses and indicator lights against your opener manual. LED colors vary by model; an amber light can be normal. Ask a technician about damaged sensors.
Use the instructions for your model
Check your opener manual before testing. For example, Chamberlain's 041A5034 sensor kit uses an amber sending light and a green receiving light. Those colors are not a reason to replace the LEDs.
For repair options, see garage door repair and our DFW cost guide.
If anything failed
If any item failed and you are not sure how to fix it, call us at (817) 789-7039. A safety check is one of the cheapest service calls we run, and we would rather you call us before something turns into a real problem. We cover North Richland Hills and the rest of the mid-cities.