Grand Rapids Rental Garage Door Checklist

In a West Michigan winter, the garage door gets a hard workout: lake-effect snow, frozen seals and cold mornings when springs are most likely to break. Tenants are the first to notice when something's wrong, and early reports keep a small repair from becoming a door off its tracks. This checklist tells tenants what to report and what not to touch.

Report right away and stop using the door

• A loud bang from the garage, followed by a door that's very heavy or won't lift
• A cable hanging loose or off its drum
• The door hanging crooked or rollers out of the track
• A door that won't reverse when something is in its way

Report within a few days

• The door reverses on its own or the opener light keeps blinking
• Grinding, squealing or banging when the door moves
• Light, snow or water coming in under the door
• A remote or keypad that has stopped working after a battery change

What tenants can safely do

1. Clear snow and slush from under the door before closing it. See garage doors and lake-effect snow
2. Wipe frost and dirt off the safety sensors near the floor
3. Replace remote batteries
4. Never touch springs, cables or bottom brackets; they hold dangerous tension

If the door is frozen shut

Don't keep pressing the opener button; it can strip gears or tear the seal. Free the seal gently and tell the manager if the door won't move. More: garage door frozen to the floor.

For property managers

A fall tune-up and new seals before the first snow prevent most winter calls. See garage door tune-ups, broken spring replacement and winter seals and weatherstripping.