Garage door systems consist of various moving parts, from the rollers that move along the tracks to the torsion or extension springs that wind up and out to lift and lower the heavy door. These parts can chug along in their key functions for quite some time. Still, they require maintenance and lubrication from time to time.
This guide explains the importance of lubricating your garage door and lists the steps for this essential maintenance task.
Table of Contents
Why Garage Doors Need Lubrication
When your garage door is first installed, the technicians will lubricate the essential parts. The lubrication ensures the entire system can operate smoothly by providing a buffer between the metal parts. But lubrication does not last forever — over time, it collects dirt and dust, becoming less effective.
Without lubrication, the moving parts will struggle to move as the garage door opens or closes. The rollers can become sticky on the tracks, and the garage door system may start to screech when the door is in motion. These sounds are the result of metal running against metal. After some time, the parts can begin to fail as they endure even more wear and tear.
Dirt and dust accumulating in the lubricant can also lead to blockages along the tracks or inside the rollers, which can stop your garage door from working correctly. If the only problem is that the tracks and rollers are clogged with dirt and grime, it’s an easy fix. Otherwise, you may need to replace damaged parts that have worn away or corroded without protective lubricant.
Whether or not your garage door makes squeaking and screeching sounds, lubricating the moving parts every six months to a year is best to avoid unnecessary wear and tear on the system.
Suitable Types of Lubricants to Use
Before shopping around for a lubricant, you need to know which type to look for. While you may think WD40 is a suitable lubricant for garage door systems, this product is not the best option. WD40 is a handy, all-purpose product that works well on various applications, from sticky locks to stuck nuts and bolts. However, WD40 is not a lubricant — it is a solvent. Although it can act as a lubricant, it is a petroleum-based penetrating oil.
If you use WD40, it might wear down the garage door components by softening the metals and even degrading nylon parts like rollers. It’s also prone to attracting dirt and dust, which will inevitably cause blocks on the tracks.
So, what type of lubricant should you use? The two most suitable types of lubricant for garage door systems are silicone-based or lithium grease:
- Silicone-based lubricant: Silicone lubricants are ideal for garage door parts. They are non-greasy and work well on metal, polymer and rubber parts due to a low reactivity to friction. They also excel at preventing corrosion.
- Lithium grease: This grease product may wear away sooner than silicone products, although it can still help protect garage door parts from wear and tear. Lithium grease is easy to apply and can reduce friction without soaking into the metal surfaces. If you choose lithium grease, be sure to lubricate moving parts every six months.
Steps to Lubricate Your Garage Door
With the right product, you can start lubricating your garage door system’s moving parts. Here’s how to use garage door lubricants.
Clean the Tracks, Rollers and Hinges
Close the garage door, disconnect the opener and grab a ladder to reach the horizontal tracks of the garage door. Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe away any dirt and grime along the tracks. Clean the inside and the outside of the tracks. While cleaning the tracks, remove any leftover residue from previous lubricants as well. Then, inspect the rollers and hinges on the garage door and remove any dirt.
Lubricate the Rollers
Apply lubricant to the rollers and the bearings inside these parts. While you should apply a generous amount of lubricant to each roller, it’s important to wipe away the excess since too much can cause the rollers to become too slippery.
Lubricate the Hinges
The hinges on the inside of the garage door hold the panels together and allow the door to bend along the curved track as it opens and closes. These hinges also need routine lubrication. Apply lubricant to each hinge and then wipe away any excess. While too much lubrication on the hinges won’t affect function, it will drip down and could create stains.
Lubricate the Spring System
Whether your garage door uses extension springs or a torsion spring, these parts need lubrication to wind and unwind. Whether you have a torsion spring system or extension springs, use a piece of cardboard to protect the area behind the spring. Hold the cardboard behind the spring and apply a generous amount of lubricant to the entire spring mechanism. You should also lubricate the bearing plates on torsion spring systems. After applying lubricant, wipe away any excess.
Lubricate the Top Rail
Next, lubricate the top rail and arm bar components. The arm bar is the part located parallel to the ceiling. The screw, belt or chain drive runs along this part. These moving parts need lubrication to move smoothly as well. However, apply minimal lubricant here to prevent the drive mechanism from slipping on the top rail.
You don’t need to apply lubricant to a belt drive. It’s also important to avoid lubricating the tracks. Lubricating both the tracks and the rollers will make it harder for the rollers to move along the tracks. Excessive lubrication can affect your garage door parts as much as a lack of lubrication.
Contact Easy Open Door for Garage Door Maintenance
Since 1979, Easy Open Door has been restoring and installing residential garage door systems in the greater San Diego area. Our reliable, highly experienced team of technicians has the tools and expertise to handle all your garage door maintenance and repair needs. Whether your garage door is screeching for fresh lubrication or squeaking sounds are caused by worn-down parts, our technicians can diagnose and restore your garage door to smooth, quiet operation.
Schedule garage door maintenance, or request a free estimate online.
