If you want your garage door and garage door opener to last for years to come, it’s important to keep both maintained properly. Performing regular inspections and maintenance will ensure your garage door is operating smoothly.
Taking the time to do this will also reveal potential problems before they cause damage in need of a major garage door repair.
Here’s how to lubricate a garage door yourself in 8 easy steps.
How to Lubricate a Garage Door
Lubricating your garage door is a simple task and will make the world of difference to your garage door.
Here’s how to lubricate a garage door:
Step 1: Close your door and cut the power to it. You want the door shut so you can access all the moving parts. Cut the power to it to ensure that it won’t open up while you’re working on it, keeping you safe.
Step 2: Clean out the tracks. These are what your garage door travels on when you’re opening and closing it. They don’t need to be greased, but they do need to be clean and free of debris in order to work properly.
Step 3: Buy an appropriate lubricant for your garage door. The best kind is a spray variant that you can easily apply.
Step 4: First, start by lubricating your hinges. Open the door slowly, and spray in lubricant in the hinge where it meets the track. This ensures that every part of the hinge is lubricated properly.
Step 5: Next you need to lubricate the rollers. These contain ball bearings that help the door roll-up. Use the thin hose attachment that came with your lubricant, and spray inside the rollers so the ball bearings are coated. If there is any excess, wipe it away with a rag so the door doesn’t become unbalanced.
Step 6: Now you need to spray your bearing plates and springs. You’ll need a stepladder to ensure that you can reach these and fully coat them with lubricant. Once you’ve done this, open and close the garage door to spread the grease around.
Step 7: You need to next lubricate the lock on the garage door. This makes it easier to lock and unlock and will prevent rust in the long run. You’ll just need to spray the lubricant once into the lock to properly lubricate it.
Step 8: Finally, you need to lubricate the top of the rail. This is what the chain travels along in order to open the garage door. Be aware that lubricating the bottom of the rail won’t do anything, and the chain itself comes with a natural protective coating, so it shouldn’t need greasing. Spray down on the top of the rail, and use a rag to move that grease around.
Once you’ve done this, your garage door has been thoroughly lubricated. When you open and close the door, you’ll hear that it’ll barely make any noise at all. It’s amazing what a difference just one can of lubricant has.
Why Lubricate Your Garage Door?
Firstly, you need to know why you need to lubricate your garage door in the first place.
Does your garage door squeak and screech every time you use it?
Many homeowners assume this is just how they are, and put up with the noise. In fact, that noise is a warning that the door needs lubrication and will become damaged if you don’t handle it. If your door is starting to make a lot of noise when you open and close it, you need to lubricate it. However, this is an easy job that you can handle yourself.
What Lubrication To Use
To get the best results when lubricating your garage door, you need to pick the right lubrication.
A popular choice is WD-40, but whatever you do, don’t use it on your garage door. People often think it’s a lubricating solution, when in fact it is for degreasing and rust removal. It will offer some benefits of lubrication for a short while, but in fact, it will make things worse in the long run.
What should you use instead? The best options are a silicone spray or white lithium grease. These are designed to lubricate moving parts and help them move with ease. They’ll often come in spray forms, which make them even easier to get into the moving parts.
Take a look at this good comparison of garage door lubrication products to get started.
Other Ways To Maintain Your Garage Door
Lubricating your garage door is one way you can keep your garage door in good condition. Here are several other ways you can keep the door in good condition for years to come.
Test the garage door balance: If your door is unbalanced, then it will put more strain on the door. Open the door up to halfway and leave it there. If the door can’t stay open, you’ll need to call an engineer to remedy the problem.
Test the auto-reverse feature: The auto-reverse is there to keep you safe, so you need to ensure it’s working as intended. Place a block of wood in the path of the door, and try shutting it. If the door doesn’t stop or stops too late, then you’ll need to change the settings on the door to make it more sensitive.
Clear out the tracks: Clearing out the tracks is mentioned earlier in this guide, but it’s hard to overstate how important it is. If there’s a blockage in the track, it’ll stop the door opening and maybe even damage it. Clean it out with a rag, and use a vacuum clear to handle any hard to reach debris.
Groom the door: Finally, you need to keep up with the exterior of your door. If it’s a wood door, check or warping or wood rot. If it’s steel, look for rust or dents that need to be addressed. Doing this will hugely help the appearance of your home.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to lubricate a garage door on your own, you can keep your door maintained and ensure it runs smoothly for years to come.