We’ll be very honest with you, skipping garage door maintenance is like skipping oil changes in your car. It might not break down today. But when it does, you’re going to wish you’d taken care of it when you had the chance.
I’m speaking from experience here. At Delaware Express Garage Door Service, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners around Wilmington, DE who waited too long. And when their doors finally gave out? The repairs weren’t cheap. Some needed full replacements. Others had cars trapped in the garage with no way out. It gets messy, fast.
Let me explain why skipping garage door maintenance is a bad idea and how staying ahead of the problem can save you time, money, and a whole lot of stress.
1. Your Garage Door Is the Biggest Moving Object in Your Home
Think about it. Your garage door probably weighs 150 to 300 pounds. It’s got springs, cables, rollers, tracks, hinges, and a motor, all working together every time you open or close it.
If one piece goes bad, the whole system can jam, snap, or break down.
Most doors get used 2 to 4 times a day. That’s over 1,000 cycles a year.
And yet, most people don’t think twice about it until it stops working. Don’t be that person.
2. Small Problems Turn Into Big Bills
When you skip regular maintenance, small issues go unnoticed.
- A loose cable turns into a snapped cable.
- A squeaky hinge becomes a broken hinge.
- A dirty sensor becomes a door that won’t close.
The average garage door repair costs anywhere from $150 to $500, depending on the damage. But if you wait too long and have to replace the whole system, that can run you $1,200 to $3,000.
The difference? A free safety inspection could’ve prevented it.
3. Garage Doors Can Be Dangerous When They’re Not Maintained
I’m not trying to scare you, but let’s be real. These doors are heavy and under a lot of tension. We’ve seen garage door springs snap with enough force to cause serious injury. If your sensors aren’t aligned, the door can close on people, pets, or your car.
This isn’t just a convenience issue; it’s a safety issue.
Routine checks catch these dangers early. We test your springs, tighten your hardware, and make sure your safety systems work like they should.
4. Poor Maintenance Hurts Curb Appeal and Property Value
A busted or noisy garage door drags down your home’s appearance fast. If you’re planning to sell your home or even just keep it looking nice for the neighborhood, a rusty, dirty, off-track door doesn’t help.
In fact, real estate agents will tell you that replacing or upgrading a garage door gives one of the highest returns on investment for home improvement projects.
But you don’t always need to replace the whole thing. Sometimes, a well-maintained door looks and works like new for years.
5. Your Garage Door Opener Works Harder (And Dies Sooner)
When parts of your garage door are worn out or misaligned, your opener motor has to work harder. That means more wear, more strain, and a shorter lifespan.
Instead of getting 10–15 years out of your opener, you might only get 5 or 6. And when that opener dies? You’re looking at another few hundred bucks to replace it.
Maintenance keeps the door balanced and smooth, so your opener doesn’t have to overwork itself every day.
6. Wilmington Weather Doesn’t Help
We live and work right here in Wilmington, Delaware, and we know what our weather can do to garage doors.
- Cold winters freeze tracks and stiffen springs.
- Salt and moisture rust the hardware.
- Heat and humidity warp wood and rubber seals.
In our over 30 years of experience, we’ve seen it all. That’s why we always recommend yearly maintenance on your garage doors.
It’s simple, it’s fast, and it keeps your garage door ready for anything our Delaware climate throws at it.
What Garage Door Maintenance Actually Includes
Here’s what we check during a maintenance visit:
- Tighten all bolts and screws
- Inspect and balance the springs
- Lubricate moving parts (rollers, hinges, chains)
- Clean and test the safety sensors
- Check the opener and remotes
- Inspect cables and weather seals
- Look for signs of rust, wear, or future problems
The whole thing usually takes under an hour, and it can prevent hundreds or even thousands of dollars in future repairs.
Don’t Wait for a Breakdown
If you take one thing away from this article, let it be this:
A little maintenance now beats a big repair later.
You wouldn’t skip oil changes on your car. Don’t skip maintenance on your garage door either. It’s too important, too heavy, and too expensive to ignore.
At Delaware Express Garage Door Service, we make it easy. We show up on time, we get the job done right, and we don’t oversell you on stuff you don’t need.
If you’re in Wilmington or anywhere in New Castle County, give us a call. We’ll check your garage door, tune it up, and make sure you’re not sitting on a ticking time bomb.
