A garage door is something many homeowners use every day without giving much thought to the components working behind the scenes. Springs, cables, rollers, tracks, hinges and electric motors all work together to keep the door opening and closing smoothly.

Regular servicing can help identify worn or damaged components before they develop into more expensive problems. But if you’ve never had your garage door professionally serviced before, you may be wondering: how much does a garage door service cost?

The garage door servicing cost will depend on the type of door, its condition, whether it’s manually or electrically operated and whether any replacement parts or repairs are required.

In this guide, we’ll explain what a garage door service typically involves, what can affect the price and why regular maintenance can be a worthwhile investment.

How Much Does Garage Door Servicing Cost?

There isn’t one fixed price for servicing every garage door.

A straightforward service on a well-maintained manual garage door will generally cost less than servicing an electric door with a more complex operating system.

The overall garage door servicing cost can be influenced by:

• The type of garage door
• Manual or electric operation
• The age and condition of the door
• The number of moving components
• Whether adjustments are required
• Whether replacement parts are needed
• Any faults discovered during the service

It’s also important to distinguish between the cost of servicing and the cost of any additional repairs.

A routine service may identify a worn cable, spring, roller or other component that needs replacing. Any repair work or replacement parts could increase the final cost.

What Does a Garage Door Service Include?

The exact work carried out will depend on the type and condition of your garage door.

Generally, servicing involves inspecting the door and its operating components to ensure everything is functioning correctly and safely.

This may include checking:

• Springs
• Cables
• Rollers
• Tracks
• Hinges
• Locks
• Fixings
• Door balance
• Opening and closing operation
• Electric motors and controls
• Safety mechanisms

Moving components may also be adjusted or lubricated where appropriate.

The aim isn’t simply to make the door operate more smoothly. A service provides an opportunity to identify developing problems before they result in a breakdown.

Why Should You Service a Garage Door?

Garage doors contain several components that are placed under significant tension and experience repeated movement.

Over time, components can wear, loosen or become damaged.

Regular servicing can help:

• Keep the door operating smoothly
• Identify worn components
• Reduce unnecessary strain on the mechanism
• Maintain safe operation
• Reduce the risk of unexpected breakdowns
• Potentially extend the life of the door
• Identify minor issues before they become larger repairs

If you use your garage door several times every day, these benefits can be particularly valuable.

How Often Should a Garage Door Be Serviced?

How frequently your garage door should be serviced depends on the door and how often it’s used.

As a general guide, annual servicing is a sensible starting point for many domestic garage doors.

Electric or particularly heavily used doors may benefit from more frequent checks. At 247 Garage Doors, electric and automated doors may be recommended for servicing approximately every 6 to 12 months, depending on their use and condition.

A professional can advise on an appropriate servicing schedule for your particular door.

Does an Electric Garage Door Cost More to Service?

Electric garage doors have additional components that aren’t present on a basic manual door.

Depending on the system, these can include:

• Electric motor
• Remote controls
• Control unit
• Safety sensors
• Automatic locking
• Limit settings
• Emergency release mechanisms

These components may need to be inspected alongside the mechanical parts of the garage door.

As a result, the garage door servicing cost for an electric system can vary depending on its complexity and whether any electrical or automation-related faults are found.

If you’re considering upgrading rather than repairing an older automated system, our guide to electric garage door cost explains what can affect the price of a new electric garage door.

Do Roller Garage Doors Need Servicing?

Yes. Roller garage doors contain moving components that can wear over time.

Depending on the model, a service may involve checking the:

• Roller curtain
• Guide rails
• Motor
• Controls
• Safety edge
• Remote controls
• Emergency override
• Fixings and supporting components

If a roller door begins moving unevenly, making unusual noises or stopping unexpectedly, it should be inspected rather than repeatedly operated.

Regular servicing can help keep an electric roller door operating smoothly and reliably.

Do Sectional Garage Doors Need Servicing?

Sectional garage doors also benefit from regular servicing.

Their operation relies on several interconnected components, including hinges, rollers, tracks, springs and cables.

A professional service can check these components for wear and ensure the door remains correctly balanced.

Automated sectional doors will also require checks of the electric operator and relevant safety systems.

If you’re considering replacing an ageing door, our sectional garage door cost guide explains what to consider when budgeting for a new sectional system.

Do Up and Over Garage Doors Need Servicing?

Despite their relatively straightforward design, up and over garage doors still contain components that can deteriorate with age and use.

Cables and springs are particularly important to the operation of many up and over doors.

If these components become damaged, the door may:

• Feel unusually heavy
• Open unevenly
• Become difficult to close
• Make unusual noises
• Fail to remain open correctly

Having the mechanism regularly inspected can help identify these problems before complete failure.

For homeowners considering a replacement, we’ve also covered up and over garage door cost in a separate guide.

Is Garage Door Servicing the Same as a Repair?

Not quite.

A garage door service is primarily preventative. The door is inspected, tested and adjusted to help keep it operating correctly.

A garage door repair is required when something has already failed or become damaged.

For example, you may need a repair if:

• A cable has snapped
• A spring has broken
• The door has come off its tracks
• The motor has failed
• The remote control system isn’t working
• The door is stuck open or closed
• The door has suffered physical damage

A service may reveal that a repair is needed, but the two aren’t necessarily the same job.

Our guide to garage door repair cost explains some of the factors that can influence the price of repair work.

Can Regular Servicing Reduce Repair Costs?

It can help.

Servicing can’t guarantee that your garage door will never develop a fault. Components naturally wear and can eventually require replacement.

However, identifying deterioration early can sometimes prevent a smaller problem from causing damage elsewhere in the mechanism.

For example, a door that isn’t correctly balanced can place unnecessary strain on other components and, on an electric door, potentially make the motor work harder than intended.

Preventative maintenance can therefore be preferable to waiting until the door stops working completely.

What Can Increase Garage Door Servicing Cost?

The price of a service may increase when additional work is required.

Replacement Parts

If a worn component is identified, the cost of replacing it may be added to the standard service charge.

Common replacement components can include:

• Cables
• Springs
• Rollers
• Hinges
• Locks
• Remote controls
• Motor components

The price will depend on the particular garage door and the parts required.

Age of the Garage Door

Older garage doors can sometimes require more work.

Components may be worn, corroded or difficult to adjust, while replacement parts for some discontinued systems can be harder to source.

Existing Faults

If you’ve booked a service because the door is already difficult to operate, the technician may discover a fault that requires repair.

In these circumstances, the visit may involve more than routine maintenance.

Electric Operation

Electric doors contain additional components that may require inspection, adjustment or repair.

The exact cost will depend on the automation system installed.

What Are the Signs Your Garage Door Needs Attention?

You don’t necessarily need to wait until your next scheduled service if the door begins behaving differently.

Arrange an inspection if you notice:

• Unusual grinding, scraping or squeaking
• Jerky movement
• The door opening unevenly
• Difficulty opening or closing
• A door that suddenly feels heavier
• Frayed or damaged cables
• Problems with electric operation
• A door that won’t stay open
• Slow operation
• Unresponsive remote controls

Ignoring these warning signs can allow the problem to worsen.

Garage door springs and cables can also be under considerable tension, so damaged components shouldn’t be dismantled or adjusted without the appropriate knowledge and equipment.

Should You Service a Garage Door Yourself?

There are simple maintenance tasks homeowners can carry out, such as keeping the area around the door clear and checking for obvious signs of damage.

However, more technical maintenance should be left to someone experienced with garage door systems.

In particular, springs and cables can be under significant tension and can cause serious injury if handled incorrectly.

Electric garage doors also combine mechanical and electrical components that need to work together correctly.

Professional servicing provides a more thorough inspection and means potential problems can be identified safely.

Is a Garage Door Service Worth the Cost?

For most homeowners, regular servicing can be a sensible investment.

A garage door is a large moving system containing components that wear with repeated use. If it’s also your main way of accessing the garage, an unexpected failure can be particularly inconvenient.

Servicing can provide reassurance that the door is operating correctly while giving you an opportunity to deal with developing problems.

It can be especially worthwhile for:

• Older garage doors
• Electric garage doors
• Doors used several times each day
• Garage doors that haven’t been inspected for several years
• Doors beginning to make unusual noises
• Properties where the garage provides regular vehicle access

Repair, Service or Replace?

Eventually, there may come a point where continued servicing and repairs no longer represent the best value.

If your garage door is generally in good condition, routine servicing and occasional replacement parts can help keep it operating for many years.

However, replacement may be worth considering if:

• Repairs are becoming frequent
• Several major components are worn
• The door is badly damaged
• Replacement parts are difficult to source
• The door no longer provides the security you want
• You want improved insulation
• You want to upgrade to electric operation

If you’re weighing up these options, our guide to garage door replacement cost explains the main factors involved in replacing an existing door.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a garage door service cost?

The price depends on the type, age and condition of your garage door and whether additional repairs or replacement parts are required. A routine service on a well-maintained manual door may cost less than work on a more complex electric system.

How often should I have my garage door serviced?

Annual servicing is a useful general guideline for many domestic garage doors. Electric or frequently used doors may benefit from checks every 6 to 12 months depending on their condition and usage.

Does a garage door service include repairs?

Not necessarily. Routine servicing generally covers inspection, testing and appropriate adjustments. If damaged components or other faults are discovered, repair work and replacement parts may involve an additional cost.

Can servicing help a noisy garage door?

Potentially. Noise can be caused by components that need lubrication or adjustment, but it can also indicate worn or damaged parts. An inspection can establish what’s causing the problem.

Do electric garage doors need servicing?

Yes. In addition to the mechanical components of the door, an electric system contains a motor, controls and safety equipment that should remain in good working order.

Can I service my own garage door?

Basic visual checks and cleaning can be carried out by homeowners, but adjustments involving springs, cables and other tensioned components should be left to an experienced garage door professional.

Book a Garage Door Service in Devon

The exact garage door servicing cost will depend on your particular door and whether any additional work is required.

At 247 Garage Doors, we provide garage door servicing and repairs throughout Devon. With more than 35 years of experience, our team works with a wide range of manual and electric garage doors and can inspect the door, identify worn components and advise if any repairs are required.

Regular servicing can help keep your garage door working safely and reliably while identifying potential problems before they leave you with a door that won’t open or close.

Contact 247 Garage Doors today to arrange a garage door service or discuss a problem with your existing door.