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Is your garage door making a noise when it opens? There are a lot of different components to your garage doors, including hinges, springs, rails, or chains, that can cause friction, leading to noises every time you open or close the garage door.
Lubricating your garage doors is part of basic maintenance, preventing noise or malfunctions in the future. Ideally, your garage doors should be lubricated every six months, ensuring the doors have a range of motion and don’t put unnecessary stress on the components or opener. Find out why you should grease your garage doors regularly and what steps are involved.
“If you lubricate your garage door and you still have noise during operation, it may need a more extensive repair or replacement.”
Why Grease Garage Doors?
Greasing your garage door offers several benefits:
- Reduced noise: Lubrication eliminates the squeaking and grinding sounds caused by metal-on-metal contact.
- Improved performance: Properly greased components operate more smoothly, reducing strain on the opener.
- Prolonged lifespan: Regular lubrication prevents rust and wear, helping your door and its parts last longer.
- Lower repair costs: Preventative maintenance reduces the risk of costly repairs in the future.
How to Grease Garage Doors
Follow these steps to lubricate your garage doors safely and efficiently.
Pre-Maintenance Tasks
Before you lubricate your garage door, you need to complete a few important maintenance tasks:
- Tighten every part of the door. Make sure the nuts and bolts are snug, but be careful not to overtighten them. You should check for worn parts and replace them as needed.
- Inspect the rollers for dust or dirt, which can cause them to break down over time and cause wobbles and noise. Clean them if needed.
- Check the hinges. Worn hinges can be noisy and may cause the door to bind as it opens.
- Tighten the garage door opener chain. A loose chain will create noise and inhibit smooth operation.
Lubrication Steps
It’s important to lubricate all the moving parts to your garage door. Here are step-by-step instructions:
- Close the garage door and turn the power off to the opener.
- Wipe the inside and outside of the tracks with a damp rag to remove dirt and debris. Never lubricate the tracks since this affects how the rollers move and may force the garage door opener to work harder. If you’re struggling to get the tracks clean, try using an automotive brake cleaner to loosen the dirt and debris.
- Open the door and lubricate each of the hinges where they meet at the bend in the track.
- Lubricate the rollers, including the tiny ball bearings inside. Wipe away excess lubricant to keep it from gumming up the components. Never lubricate nylon rollers!
- Lubricate the springs and bearing plates. Open and close the door a few times to evenly distribute the lubricant.
- Lubricate the armbar and lock if you have it. This will make it easier to lock the door manually if you need to. Grease the keyhole and large armbar at the top of the door.
- Lubricate the rail on the top, which is where the chain sits, and spread the grease evenly with a rag. Don’t grease the chain, which has its own lubricant.
Tips for Lubricating Your Garage Door
Lubricating the moving parts in your garage door every six months is basic maintenance. This not only keeps your door quiet but also extends the lifespan of your garage door and its components.
You have several options for garage door lubricant. The best options are silicone sprays or white lithium grease. Aerosol sprays are easier to use in small components with tight areas. They’re also tolerant of temperature fluctuations and last a long time. White lithium grease is non-corrosive, adheres well to metal, and spreads easily, but it’s messier to use.
Avoid using mechanic grease, engine oil, or products like WD-40, which are susceptible to dust and dirt buildup over time.
What If Lubricating the Garage Door Doesn’t Help?
If you lubricate your garage door and you still have noise during operation, it may need a more extensive repair or replacement. Worn or damaged parts, misalignment, or an old, worn system can affect your door’s operation.
It’s best to contact a professional garage door contractor in Austin instead of doing the work yourself. If you don’t have training and expertise, you can damage your garage door parts or risk serious injury.
Contact Austin’s Greater Garage Doors
If greasing your garage door isn’t enough to restore smooth operation, it may be time for repairs or replacement. Austin’s Greater Garage Doors offers top-notch repair, replacement, and installation services in Austin, Pflugerville, and the surrounding areas. Contact us today for professional garage door services!
