How Often Should You Service Your Overhead Door?

If your overhead doors move freight, control traffic flow, or protect temperature-sensitive inventory, the question isn’t if they need maintenance — it’s how often.

At Eton, we service hundreds of doors each year across Ontario — from rolling steel doors in retail centres to insulated sectional doors in freezer warehouses. And while every facility is different, some clear patterns emerge.

Let’s break down how often you should service your commercial or industrial overhead door - and how to tailor the right schedule for your operation.

Why Service Frequency Matters

Commercial doors are high-cycle equipment. Unlike residential doors, which might open 1 - 4 times a day, your facility’s doors might run dozens or even hundreds of cycles daily.

Without a service schedule, issues like these creep up:

• Uneven wear on springs

• Operator fatigue

• Failing sensors

• Grinding rollers or damaged seals

• Energy loss and air infiltration

• Unplanned downtime

We’ve seen avoidable issues shut down entire loading zones. One client lost two full shifts to a seized door spring — all preventable with regular checks.

Recommended Service Frequency by Usage Type

Here’s a quick baseline we use to guide clients:

Usage Type	Example Facilities	Service Frequency
High-Cycle (100+ daily cycles)	Distribution centres, cold storage, grocery warehouses	Quarterly (4× per year)
Medium-Cycle (25–99 daily cycles)	Manufacturing, auto dealerships, mid-size retail	Biannual (2× per year)
Low-Cycle (<25 daily cycles)	Maintenance bays, commercial garages, storage units	Annual (1× per year minimum)

Of course, this is a starting point. You may need to adjust based on environment (e.g., exposure to dust, salt, cold), door type, or compliance requirements.

What Happens During a Service Visit?

A proper service isn’t just a visual check. At Eton, our preventative maintenance includes:

Mechanical Inspection

• Spring tension and lifecycle status

• Rollers, hinges, and bearings

• Tracks for alignment and debris

• Fastener integrity and frame condition
  

Operator Testing

• Motor load and responsiveness

• Limit switch calibration

• Chain/belt wear

• Emergency release function
  

Safety Systems

• Photo-eye sensor alignment

• Door balance test (manual lift)

• Safety signage and clearance verification

• Interlock and emergency stop systems
  

Lubrication & Adjustments

• Hinges, rollers, bearings

• Torsion spring assemblies

• Weatherstripping and seals (check for compression loss)
  

Documentation

• Digital service report with photos

• Notes on lifecycle estimates and recommendations

• Quote for any urgent repairs or upgrades

You’ll know exactly what was done — and what’s coming next.

Seasonal Considerations in Ontario

If you're based in Ontario like most of our clients, weather matters. Cold months cause doors to seize, seals to stiffen, and motors to slow down. Spring freeze-thaw cycles wreak havoc on pits and sills.

We recommend:

• A fall service visit before winter locks in issues

• A spring service to assess winter wear and prep for summer cycles
  

This is especially critical for:

• High-speed doors

• Freezer/cooler environments

• Facilities with open-bay docks
  

Signs It’s Time for Service (Even If You’re Not Scheduled Yet)

If you’re noticing any of these symptoms, schedule a visit ASAP:

• Door slams shut or doesn’t close all the way

• It struggles to open, or hesitates partway

• You hear grinding, screeching, or thudding

• Remote controls or switches are unresponsive

• Visible wear or rust on springs or cables

• Your energy bills are creeping up

Rule of thumb: If you’re thinking, “That doesn’t sound right,” you’re probably due.

Common Myths About Door Maintenance

“It’s working fine, so it doesn’t need service.”

Many failures build up silently. By the time you notice, it’s already a repair.

“We’ll just fix it when it breaks.”

Reactive maintenance costs 2–3x more on average — not including downtime.

“The door’s new, so it’s good for years.”

Even brand-new doors need scheduled checks — especially if usage is high.

How ELDS Helps You Stay on Schedule

We know service scheduling is easy to forget — so we take it off your plate.

ELDS offers:

• Customized PM programs based on usage and door type

• Automatic reminders before each service

• Assigned Account Manager to coordinate your sites

• Emergency call-out support if something breaks between visits
  

And because we already work with grocery chains, warehousing clients, and auto dealerships, we understand how to work fast, safely, and around your operations.

We don’t wait for failure. We engineer uptime.

Ready to Stay Ahead of the Next Breakdown?

If your doors are critical to your workflow, don’t gamble on guesswork. Set up a professional service schedule — and rest easy knowing your facility is always ready.

Contact ELDS for a site visit and custom preventative maintenance plan.