Tips for Lubricating a Garage Door

Your garage door is probably one of the most useful and hardworking conveniences in your entire house. To keep it functioning effectively, the garage door requires proper maintenance which includes lubricating all its moving parts. In addition to working as it should, lubricating the moving parts of your garage door will reduce the noise produced when opening and closing the door as well as add more life to these parts. It will also save you money worth of repairs in the long run.

Below is a simple guide on how to properly lubricate a garage door.

Choose the Right Lubricant

The type of lubricant you use to lubricate the parts of your garage door is very important. Lithium-based sprays are suitable and convenient for lubricating small moving parts in your garage. Lithium-based sprays do not attract dust or gum unlike engine oil and common grease.

Use a lithium spray or a silicone-based lubricant to complete this exercise. You can also use WD-40 to clean the tracks as it has dust-resistant properties. Alternatively, you can wipe the tracks with a dry cloth.

Lubricate the rollers and all moving parts

Spray a lithium-based lubricant on the inside of the rollers and on all the pivot points located on the track brakes. This will help the rollers glide smoothly over the track and reduce the friction on the pivot points. The outside of the rollers do not require lubrication.

Make sure to apply lubrication on all moving parts of the garage door. These include the stems, hinges, extension springs, and the top of the chain rail, the arm bar, and the lock.

When lubricating the extension springs, apply just enough so that it does not run down the springs. Only lubricate metal hinges at their pivot points. Plastic hinges do not need lubrication. Note that applying lubricant to plastic hinges may cause them to break.

Don’t apply lubricant on the guide track

Applying lubricant to the guide track can cause the doors to slip or become unbalanced. Instead, wipe the guide track with a clean cloth or use WD-40 to remove any dirt build-up that may be preventing the garage door from gliding smoothly along the tracks.

Like the guide track, torsion springs do not need any lubrication.

Allow the lubricant to even out and penetrate 

Open and close the garage doors several times after properly lubricating all the door parts. This will help the lubricant penetrate into the parts and even out the distribution of the lubricant. Your garage door should now open and close smoothly without making too much noise.

If you still hear noise after applying lubrication, you may have missed a part or more. Follow the noise to determine which part is producing the noise and lubricate it. Your garage door should operate without making noise.