As winter gives way to spring in Northwest Montana, it’s the perfect time to tackle home maintenance tasks—starting with your garage door. After enduring months of freezing temperatures, snow, and ice, your garage door system may be in need of some attention. Regular maintenance not only extends the life of your door but also ensures safe and reliable operation year-round.

Here at American Garage Door in Kalispell, we’ve put together a spring maintenance guide to help you keep your garage door in top shape.

1. Inspect for Winter Damage

Cold Montana winters can be brutal on garage doors. Begin your spring tune-up with a thorough inspection:

• Look for cracks or warping in wooden doors

• Check for rust on metal parts and hardware

• Inspect the weather stripping along the bottom and sides of the door for signs of brittleness or cracking

If anything looks damaged or worn, it’s a good idea to replace it before it leads to bigger problems.

2. Test the Door’s Balance and Functionality

An unbalanced garage door can strain your opener and increase the risk of failure. To test:

• Disconnect the opener and manually lift the door

• If it doesn’t stay halfway open on its own, the springs may need adjustment

Important: Never attempt to adjust torsion springs yourself—this is a job for trained professionals like our team at American Garage Door.

3. Lubricate Moving Parts

Montana’s dry winter air can cause parts to dry out. Lubricate the following components:

• Rollers

• Hinges

• Tracks

• Springs

Use a silicone-based garage door lubricant for best results. Avoid WD-40, which is more of a cleaner than a proper lubricant.

4. Clean the Garage Door

Winter grime and road salt can accumulate on your garage door. Use a mild detergent and soft cloth to clean both sides of the door, paying close attention to the bottom panel where dirt and moisture tend to collect.

This is also a good time to check for fading paint or finish damage—spring is ideal for touch-ups or a fresh coat!

5. Test the Auto-Reverse Safety Features

Your garage door should reverse when it senses an object in its path. To test:

• Place a 2×4 or roll of paper towels in the door’s path

• Close the door using the opener—if it doesn’t reverse automatically, the safety sensors may be misaligned or malfunctioning

Don’t risk it—have a professional inspect it right away.

6. Schedule a Professional Tune-Up

Even if your door seems fine, an annual professional inspection can catch hidden issues before they turn into costly repairs. At American Garage Door, our spring tune-ups include:

• Complete safety inspection

• Spring and cable check

• Opener and sensor testing

• Lubrication and adjustments

Serving Kalispell and the Flathead Valley

Whether you’re in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, or Bigfork, American Garage Door is your trusted local expert. We offer repairs, maintenance, and new installations—all backed by years of experience and top-quality customer service.

Ready for a Spring Tune-Up?

Don’t wait until your garage door fails—get ahead of the curve this spring. Call American Garage Door in Kalispell at (406) 752-2662 to keep your garage running smoothly all year long.