It’s with regular lubrication that garage doors are silenced, move smoothly, even last for longer. That’s no secret. Lubricants act as a layer of protection between parts. For example, between garage door tracks and rollers. They also help some parts move, since they slide easier when greased. No doubt. And since they do that and parts don’t rub against each other – in other words, there’s no friction, they also remain in much better shape than if they weren’t lubed timely. What this means practically is that they also work better and last longer – hence, the longevity of garage doors when lubed regularly.
It’s fair to say that lubrication is – or should be, a task of a more general garage door maintenance – a service that would involve a visual inspection, tightening the fasteners, testing the balance and the safety features, et cetera. But even then, lubrication must be done right. And that’s our subject today.
One more thing. Sometimes, garage doors need to be lubricated quite often. That’s to say two or even three times a year. This depends on your location, the climate, how often the garage door is used. Once again, the important thing is that the garage door is lubricated correctly. Why is this so important? We’ll tell you.
If the garage door is not sufficiently lubricated, it will still make squeaky noises. And you won’t get all the advantages that come along with this task – smoothness, longevity, et cetera. But you don’t need to over-lubricate either. Or just apply lubricants everywhere. Excess lubricants are nearly as bad as no lubricants.
So, let’s cut to the chase and take a closer look of how to do the job. Let us examine the main garage door lubrication dos and don’ts.
Garage door lubrication DOS
DO remember to disconnect the garage door opener first to avoid accidents if someone accidentally pushes the clicker button. Do that with the garage door in its closing position.- DO clean the garage door parts before you lubricate. Dirt usually is trapped in garage door tracks and other moving parts and if it’s not removed first, the lubes won’t adhere well. In fact, the combo oil and debris will create stiffness, blocking the good performance of the garage door.
- DO lubricate all moving parts. These are the spring coils, the opener’s rail, the rollers, the hinges.
- DO lubricate correctly. For example, when you apply the lubricants on the spring coils, use a cloth to rub the oil well all over the coils.
- DO remember to move the garage door two-three times up and down, when you are done. This movement will help the lubricants to spread evenly.
- DO check if the bearings are sealed. If they are, they don’t need lubrication. Similar with the opener’s belt – it usually doesn’t need lubrication. If you own a chain drive opener, you may need to use a cloth to apply a small portion of oil all over the chain.
Garage door lubrication DON’TS
- DON’T overlubricate. A small amount is often enough. Then again, it depends on the part. For instance, steel rollers need regular lubrication. Nylon rollers do NOT need lubrication.
- DON’T lubricate the tracks. It’s enough that the rollers are lubed.
- DON’T use just any lubricant. Avoid WD-40 since it’s a degreaser – not the right product for the job. Plus, it will attract dust and debris. Prefer lithium lubricants or silicone sprays. Those which need manual application help you apply evenly but may make a mess. Aerosol sprays usually come with a long and thin straw, which makes the task easier when it comes to the small garage door parts. They also help you better control how much lubes you apply, and don’t make a mess.
- DON’T forget to wipe excess lubricants. If the oils drip on the floor, someone may slip. Also, it’s not good for the garage door and will generally make a mess.
- DON’T forget to lubricate the garage door before the cold season comes. Metal parts, especially springs, become brittle when the temps drop and may break.
