Is your garage door squeaking when it moves? Most likely, it’s because of constant use and old age. Other times, it might probably need proper lubrication to the garage door parts.
Applying grease to garage doors is undoubtedly the easiest thing to remove the noise. Rather than calling a garage door expert right away, you might want to check the parts first.
See if the hinges, springs, rollers, and locks show signs of wearing, rusting, and accumulating dirt. If it does, you should clean and lubricate the parts.
If you want to get rid of the garage door squeaking noises, our guide will help you how to lubricate the garage door. For your convenience, you can also contact a local garage door company. Read more below.
Where Should I Start?
It isn’t necessary to lubricate every part of the garage door. In fact, there are specific parts you need to apply a garage door lube. These are the following:
1. Hinges
Hinges enable the garage door to fold and unfold quickly. Hence, it’s prone to corrosion, wear and tear. When working with the hinges, you only need to lubricate the metal parts. On the other hand, avoid applying a garage door lubricant if the hinges are plastic.
2. Rollers
Rollers move every time the door opens and closes. Hence, it can be prone to cracks, corrosion, and dirt accumulation. There are different ways to apply a lubricant when it comes to rollers.
3. Springs
Garage Door Springs can be pretty challenging to handle for a homeowner. They are under extreme tension, injuring you if you don’t handle them well. Thus, it’s essential to pay attention to them, or else you would be affecting the lifespan of your garage door.
If you notice a broken spring, contact a professional for a garage door spring repair service.
4. Locks
If the locks are not well-lubricated, unlocking them using keys would prove difficult. Ensure that the locks are adequately lubricated to ensure the inner mechanism moves smoothly.
Clean All Non-Moving Parts
Now that you know the parts that require greasing, it’s crucial to do the first critical step: cleaning all the non-moving parts.
Of course, don’t forget the moving parts – springs, tracks, rollers, hinges, and locks. Prepare a clean cloth and wipe any dirt and rust you see from the components.
You can also use a sponge and soak it into the water with a detergent solution. Then apply it on the parts where there is dirt, dust, and grime build-up.
The Actual Process of Lubrication
After buying a lubricant and cleaning the parts, it’s time to head into the actual process. There is no actual step-by-step process. You only need to know the exact parts to apply the grease.
Lubricate the Hinges
Metal hinges should be lubricated, especially on the pivot points. The best product for metal hinges is a silicone-based spray to target minor areas. However, if the hinges in your garage door are plastic-made, don’t bother lubricating them.
Lubricate the Springs
You can either use silicone or lithium grease for springs. However, to be safe, use a silicone-based spray to avoid touching the springs directly. Apply just before the oil begins to drip.
Lubricate the Rollers
For nylon rollers, concentrate on the inner bearings near the shaft. You can apply them all over for metal rollers since they are prone to corrosion. If you have a plastic roller, stick to the inner bearings.
Lubricate the Locks
Apply a liberal amount of silicone-based spray for the locks to reach inside the tight spaces.
Clean the Tracks
Tracks are another moving component of the garage door. However, it’s not necessary to apply a lubricant to it. Simply remove all dirt and dust using a detergent solution with a sponge.
Test Your Garage Door
After doing all the cleaning and lubricating:
- Test your garage door.
- Open and close it a few times. If you hear a squeaky garage door, recheck the parts.
- Apply lubricant as necessary and test it once again.
Testing will not only allow you to detect if there are still garage door squeakings. It will also help to distribute the lubricant evenly on the surfaces. This will get rid of the noise and friction between surfaces.
How Many Times In A Year Should I Lubricate My Garage Door?
Often, lubricate the garage door at least once a year. However, it still varies according to the model or type of your garage door.
Some models and types require maintenance quarterly or every three months. Hence, doing this regular maintenance will prevent expensive repairs and replacements.
Once you notice any screeching or squeaking sound, it’s time to act on it. If you also see that your garage door is not functioning well, you need to grease your garage door.
A garage door comprises several parts that work together to ensure it operates properly. As the parts work as time goes by, friction eventually happens between the surfaces. Since these parts expand and contract over time, they will wear and tear.
For this reason, maintain your garage door to make sure everything is working as it should be. Prevent any garage door noises by lubricating the parts.
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