Lubricate Your Garage Door to Make It Last

Lubricate Your Garage Door to Make It Last

Regular maintenance can extend the life of your garage door. Sometimes, a little oil is all you need!

If your garage door makes awful noise every time you use it, it’s time for a little TLC. Grab some oil… let’s make your garage door run as smoothly as when it was first installed!

Lubricating your garage door can be a do‑it‑yourself job. Today, we’ll point out each part that needs a little oil to keep everything running smoothly. Maintaining your garage door reduces wear. You’ll find potential problems while they are still small, saving you money in the long run.

Before You Start

Before working on your garage door, we recommend you carefully inspect it for damage. If any parts are broken, bent or worn, they need to be replaced as soon as possible. Certain parts are under great tension, others are quite heavy. You could be hurt if a part were to break as you were performing your maintenance.

We also recommend releasing the door opener, which is easily done by pulling the hanging cord. Lift and lower your door manually. Your door should lift smoothly and easily – when properly balanced, your garage door should feel like it weighs less than ten pounds.

Contact us if you suspect your garage door system needs to be adjusted. We’ll promptly send one of our technicians for a professional inspection.

Lubricate Hinges, Brackets and Tracks

Now that your door is in good working order, it’s time to apply a light coat of lubricant. Pick a lubricant made for metal parts or use a little motor oil.

Start by applying your lubricant to the moveable parts of hinges. Then, lightly oil the brackets, which are fastened to the top and bottom of your door.

When it comes to tracks, be careful not to over‑lubricate. A few drops of oil on each horizontal span is a sufficient amount. Since the rollers keep moving back and forth on these tracks, they will help spread the oil.

Inspect the Rollers

Your garage door is equipped with a specific type of roller. Certain types should not be lubricated. Here are our recommendations:

  • Steel rollers (with white nylon coverings): do not lubricate. These rollers are equipped with sealed ball bearings which don’t need to be oiled.
  • Steel rollers (without coverings): add a drop or two of oil to the ball bearing.
  • Black nylon rollers: add a few drops of oil between the shaft and roller.

Oil the Springs

Extension springs and torsion springs both need routine maintenance. Lightly rub the spring with oil. Apply from top to bottom, and then wipe away any extra. Since garage door springs stretch and compress often, regular oiling reduces friction. Oil can also prevent rust from forming, which can be especially problematic during humid weather.

Check These Final Mechanisms

As you wrap up your maintenance, check the following parts:

  • The center plates found above the door. These plates sometimes need a little oil to prevent friction. Your garage door may have one or more of these plates, which support the shaft found near the center of the garage door.
  • Lift cables and drum coils. Although these components don’t require oil, check for signs of wear.

Lubricate Your Garage Door Opener

Only a chain drive door opener needs to be lubricated. If you have a belt drive opener, you’re off the hook. Belt drives need to be professionally lubricated during the installation process. No further maintenance is necessary.

If you have a chain drive opener, you’ll need to maintain it. Manufacturers recommend using a white grease lubricant. Simply rub a small amount of white grease over the chain.

To purchase the proper lubricant, or to have our technicians complete a professional maintenance and lubrication, please contact us. We will carefully inspect your garage door system and ensure it is in perfect working order.

A Little Maintenance Goes a Long Way

It only takes a few minutes to lubricate your garage door system. By doing so just once or twice per year, you’ll reduce daily wear and tear. Your garage door will be safe and dependable if you give it this simple tune‑up. Extend the life of your garage door… you’ll be surprised how a little maintenance goes a long way!

For more information, or to schedule a service call, please complete our online form. We are happy to provide a free quote. You may also contact us at 613-749-2138. Our staff is looking forward to serving you.

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