If you’re interested in learning how to fix garage door rollers, you’re probably having trouble opening and closing your garage door effectively.
The garage door rollers on your door are an important part of the system. If you start seeing issues with your garage door, then they could well be the cause of them. Here’s how to tell if your garage door rollers are the culprit, and how to put the problem right.
In this article, we’re taking a closer look at how to fix garage door rollers.
How to Fix Garage Door Rollers
The short answer to this is, call in the experts. There are many jobs you can DIY when it comes to your garage door, but replacing the garage door rollers is not one of them.
This is because working on your garage door is a dangerous job. They weigh upwards of 150 pounds, and you don’t want that to fall on you as you’re working. As well as this, a good garage door expert will install your new rollers for you properly, and ensure that everything is working as it should before they leave.
If you’re going to hire an expert, make sure you’re finding one that will do the best possible job. It’s always a good idea to check sites like Trustpilot and the BBB to see what others have to say. You can also talk to family and friends, to see if they have any recommendations.
Once they have the new rollers in place, they’ll show you how to take care of them, so you get the most out of them before they need to be replaced again.
Here’s how to fix garage door rollers.
Signs Your Rollers Need To Be Fixed
There are all kinds of things that could go wrong with your garage door, so you need to understand when the issue is being caused by your garage door rollers. These rollers are what guide your garage door up and down the tracks, so if there’s any problems with the door going up and down, they could be the problem. Here’s what you should be looking out for.
Noisy garage door: Of course, your garage door is going to make some noise when you’re using it. Are you hearing way more noise than usual though? If you’re hearing popping or grinding from the door, that’s a sign that the rollers are damaged.
Don’t change the rollers just yet though, as there are other things that can cause this problem. A locked torsion spring or worn hinges can also create a noisy garage door, so check for these as well as wear in the rollers.
Uneven door: When you open your door, does it open unevenly? If it’s sagging to one side, that’s a sign that a torsion spring may be wearing out. It can also be a sign that one of the rollers is wearing out too, so you’ll want to work out which one this is.
When checking springs, be careful as they carry a lot of force. When they break and spring loose, they can cause damage and even injury, so take care.
Vibration: Again, you’ll expect the garage door to vibrate a bit when it opens and closes. If that vibration gets violent though, that’s a problem. If you let this keep happening, it can allow nuts and bolts to start to come loose.
This often happens when rollers wear down. They’re designed to let the garage door move smoothly, so when they’re worn out you’re going to see more vibration.
Damage and defects: When you take a look at your rollers, you may see some visible damage to them. This can be cracks or chips, that show that the roller is nearing the end of its lifespan. Check the rod too, as a bent rod also shows that the mechanism needs to be replaced.
Check the lifespan: All garage door rollers will wear out after some time in operation. Keep track of how old yours are, as that will tell you if they need to be replaced. Plastic and steel rollers without ball bearings will only last a few years, while steel and nylon rollers with ball bearings will last up to 15 years.
Maintaining Your Garage Door Rollers
You have your new garage door rollers in place, so you’ll need to do some work to keep them in the best possible condition. This is very easy to do, you just need to follow these tips:
Do regular inspections: This is the most important thing you can do for your garage door. If you’re keeping a close eye on it, you’ll be able to spot if anything goes wrong much quicker. It’s better for garage door safety too, as you won’t have a problem get worse without you knowing about it, and potentially putting your family in danger.
Look for any signs of wear and tear on the door. You can also conduct a test of the auto-reverse if you have a garage door opener. Make sure that everything is working as it should.
Lubricate the door: This is so important for your whole garage door, not just the rollers. You’ll need to lubricate all moving parts regularly, including those ball bearings in the rollers. This keeps everything moving smoothly. Use lithium grease to do this, and you’ll get the best results.
Call in experts when needed: Have you seen anything that isn’t quite right on your garage door? If so, then you’ll want to call in the experts right away. Some homeowners shy away from this, as they feel it’s expensive. However, if a problem is repaired by a novice or left alone, it’s going to be a lot more expensive to fix the damage. If left long enough, the whole garage door may have to be replaced.
If you see anything that needs to be replaced or repaired, call those experts now so they can take care of it for you.
Your garage door rollers are one of the most important parts of your garage door. Keep an eye on them, and get help to repair or replace them if you see any signs of damage. That way, you’ll be able to avoid major breakdowns before they even happen.