Tired of hearing your garage door make annoying noises? If yes, this blog on how to lubricate a garage door will serve you just right. An unlubricated garage door not only creates irritating noises but also leads to wear and tear of components of the door. If not taken action in time, it may give rise to a multitude of inconveniences in the future. Fortunately, with the necessary steps, you can easily eliminate the garage door noises. Here, we will elaborate on every step for proper lubrication and help you quiet your garage door once and for all.
Do Garage Doors Need Lubrication?
Absolutely! Lubrication is the most important step in maintaining the functionality of the entire garage door system. You must lubricate the door and its components, such as tracks, rollers, springs, and hinges, among other components, frequently, i.e., at least once every 6 months. Proper lubrication enhances the motion of the garage door and protects the components from wear and tear due to friction. It is time to lubricate your garage door If you notice problems such as:
- Jamming of garage door
- Uneven opening and closing of the door
- Noises from the door while opening and closing
- The garage door gets stuck
- Rusting of the components
Which Parts of Your Garage Door Need to be Greased?
Your garage door is much more complicated than it looks. It is an assembly of various components holding the system together in place, and figuring out where to lubricate a garage door can be a little tricky. So, below are the components of the garage door that must be lubricated:
- Hinges and pivot points: Lubricate the metallic hinges connecting the door panels and grease every pivot point of the door.
- Bearing plates: Put the grease on bearing plates on both ends of the shaft above the garage door.
- Torsion springs: Grease the coils of the torsion spring located above the door.
- Rails: Grease the bottom section of the rails situated near the garage ceiling where the trolley slides back and forth.
- Rollers: Grease the rollers located on both sides of the door that move over the tracks.
- Chain drive and shaft drive: Lubricate the chain or shaft on top of the rails.
- Lock: Lubricate the garage door lock located inside or outside of the door to prevent it from jamming.
What is the Best Thing to Lubricate a Garage Door with?
Lubricants are the superfood of your garage door, and choosing the best lubricant for your door ensures its longevity. There are mainly two types of lubricants: lithium-based and silicon-based. Both types of lubricants are effective with their own set of advantages. Lithium lubricants are best for metal components because of their excellent adhesive nature, while silicon lubricants are preferred for their temperature resistance and versatile nature. But, whichever type of lubricant you choose, lubricants by WD-40 take the crown for the best lubricant for your garage door. WD-40 is a trusted brand that has an array of quality products, including garage door lubricants.
Should You Lubricate Your Garage Door Tracks Yourself?
No. The tracks of your lubricants should not be lubricated. Applying lubricant on rollers is sufficient to glide the door over the tracks smoothly. If you apply lubricant to the tracks, you will encounter the following issues that affect the functionality of the tracks:
- The greasy tracks may cause the roller to slide over its surface instead of rolling, which will end up damaging the roller and the bearing.
- Adding grease to the tracks can gather dirt and block the motion of the door.
How Do You Lubricate Your Garage Door: Step-By-Step
Lubricating your garage door is not much of a hassle once you know what components to lubricate. The below-mentioned steps on how to lubricate a garage door are Express Garage Door technicians approved. Following these steps will help you get rid of the irritating garage door noises within a matter of a few minutes.
1. Clean the Dust & Dirt on Your Garage Door
The first step is to clean the dirt on your garage door and make it squeaky clean for lubrication. Regular lubrication is generally done every 6 months. Over the months, the grease on the door tends to gather a lot of dirt, which needs proper cleaning before you relubricate the parts. If not cleaned properly, the residual dirt will build up and prevent the door from moving smoothly.
Grab a clean piece of cloth as a wiper to remove the dirt from the components, and purchase a degreasing spray cleaner. Apply the solution to all the greasy and dirty components of the door and wipe off the dissolved dirt using a clean cloth.
2. Purchase a Lithium-Based Grease or Garage Door Cleaner
As mentioned in the above section, you can purchase any of the silicon or lithium-based lubricants, depending on your preference. Ensure it is of great quality. If you don’t know what to get, you can go for a WD-40 garage door lubricant. You can easily get the WD-40 products in nearby hardware and maintenance stores or online platforms such as Amazon and eBay.
3. Open the Garage Door
After you have cleaned all the components of the door, open the garage door using your remote control. Keeping the garage door open will help you apply the lubricant on the rollers and hinges on the lower panels evenly.
4. Lubricate the Rollers
Rollers used in garage doors are of three types, and here is how to properly lubricate a garage door roller:
- Plastic rollers require lubrication only at the point where the shaft and roller come into contact.
- Nylon rollers should be lubricated only at the spot where the ball bearing is exposed. If the nylon roller does not have a bearing, simply lubricate the point of contact of the shaft and roller.
- Steel roller should be lubricated throughout its surface, including the exposed surface of the ball bearing.
Make sure to lubricate lightly and wipe off excess drips using a clean cloth.
5. Lubricate the Hinges
It is easier to reach all the hinges on your garage door from the inside when the door is in manual motion. Carefully grab the garage door and lift it in an upward motion. As you lift the door, make sure to spray the lubricant on each hinge, bending with motion. Lubricating the moving parts of the hinges will allow the door to operate smoothly. Lastly, wipe out the excess drip of lubricant with a clean cloth.
6. Lubricate the Springs
The springs are located right above the garage door. You can use a ladder to reach the spring. Climb the ladder to the height from where you can comfortably reach the spring for lubrication. Now, lubricate the torsion springs, lying parallel to the door, by spraying the grease throughout the length of the springs. Make sure to coat every coil evenly for proper lubrication.
7. Lubricate the Bearing Plates
Bearing plates are on both ends of the shaft above the garage door. After locating the plates, spray the grease on the spot where the bearing plates meet the shaft. Also, spray on the inner side of the plates so that the lubricant reaches across the length of the cable between the bearing plates.
8. Lubricate the Lock & Armbar
You cannot miss lubricating the armbar and lock of the garage door. Locate the armbar connected to the top of the garage door. Distribute the lubricant throughout the length of the armbar, coating its surface. Similarly, the garage door lock should also be lubricated properly to prevent it from getting jammed. Depending on the type of the door, the lock may be present in different locations in your garage door, inside or outside of the door. So, locate the lock first and then apply the lubricant on it.
9. Lubricate the Top of the Garage Door Rail
The garage door rail is a long bar on top of the garage door, lying in a perpendicular direction to the door. This bar is where the trolley drive moves back and forth, carrying the entire weight of the door. Hence, the rail goes through a lot of friction while opening or closing the door. The rail should be thoroughly lubricated for it to function properly. If you have a belt drive, then only apply lubricant on the bottom of the rail. Otherwise, apply the grease on both sides of the rail.
What is WD-40 and How to Spray it on Your Garage Door?
WD-40 is a reputed company that manufactures a wide range of quality products for maintenance works in factories, homes, and workshops. WD-40 has plenty of products for garage door maintenance, from lubricants to degreaser solutions, effective enough to keep your garage door components running for a long time. The WD-40 solutions come in spray cans with long spray pipes attached to them, making the application much easier. Some of the major benefits of using WD-40 are:
- High-grade lubricant solution
- Prevents rust and corrosion
- Prevents the components from sticking or binding
- Protection from moisture
- Removes tough stains
- Enhances the durability of the garage door components
To spray the WD-40 solution on your garage door, follow the below-listed steps:
- Point the tip of the spray pipe on the target spot
- Press down the top of the can until the solution sprinkles on the surface evenly
Conclusion
Lubrication is the easiest maintenance work you can do on your garage door by yourself. This guide on how to lubricate a garage door is a perfect step towards it. Unlike any other garage door maintenance, you do not necessarily require a technician’s help, and it can be done independently. However, you have to be mindful of the quality of the products you are using and make sure not to use oils or any other solutions that can cause rust on the metallic components of your garage door. If you are still confused about how to lubricate and what to use to lubricate a garage door, the technicians at Express Garage Door are always ready to help anytime! Contact us at 214-543-2891.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are mainly two options for how to lubricate garage door wheels, i.e., silicon-based or lithium-based lubricants. You can buy any type of lubricant from WD-40 or any other brand that you trust. Take a can of lubricant and spray the solution all over the surface of the roller and the bearing inside it. Well-lubricated rollers protect the tracks and the hinges and allow the garage door to operate smoothly.
While lubricating the rollers, you should not miss lubricating the bearings too. Bearings are located inside the rollers, which makes it easier to miss the spot while lubricating. So, to do it right, target the tip of the spray pipe of the lubricating can on the exposed part of the bearings. Then, spray the grease on the bearing thoroughly. As you open and close the garage door, the lubricant will evenly distribute throughout the surface of the ball bearing.
Yes, WD-40 is a trusted lubricating product for your garage door hinges. The addition of lithium grease in WD-40 provides a long-term lubrication for your garage door that reduces friction and wear, leading to a longer lifespan. Your garage door components will last longer and be more functional when you use a good quality lubricant.
