Garage Door Safety Inspection: what to note first

A tenant mentioned the door is louder than it used to be. From the driveway it looks fine, but on closer inspection the hinges near the floor are streaked orange and one roller wobbles as it turns.

Worth answering before the call

What prompted the call, and when did you first notice it? Is there a spring on a shaft above the opening, or springs stretched along the tracks? Does the door sound or move differently going up than coming down?

How often should a garage door be inspected?

Once a year suits most households, and early spring, after the salt and freeze-thaw season, is a natural time. A door that opens many times a day, an older door, or one on a rental where nobody watches it closely does well with a look each season. Between visits, the monthly balance, reversal and photo-eye checks that industry guidance recommends catch most changes early.

Should I have the door inspected when buying a house?

It answers the questions a home inspection leaves open. A general inspector confirms the door opens and closes; a door technician records the make and age of the hardware, how much life the springs and cables appear to have, whether the safety devices pass, and what to budget for. For a seller, the same report settles a buyer's questions before they are asked and shows the door was cared for.