Getting home after a long day at work will reduce your stress levels right away but this peaceful feeling can be disrupted by a noisy garage door. The banging, screeching and groaning will put you right back into stress mode. You might start thinking that’s what it’s supposed to sound like, but you’re wrong. This noise means that your door is in desperate need of lubrication. Your garage door will return to quiet function once it’s been lubricated, but if you use the wrong kind of product to lubricate it, you can damage the system. The safest lubricates you can use on your garage door are ones that are developed for them.
Parts of the Garage Door that Need Lubricating
Lubricating your garage door should be done every two to three months to keep the garage door running smoothly and quietly. Springs, rollers, tracks and hinges all require lubrication. The way your garage door is configured will affect the lubrication process but the usual order you should lubricate your garage door is as follows.
Garage Door Tracks. Do not lubricate the tracks. The only maintenance the track needs is cleaning. Use a rag to clean all the dirt and debris off the tracks that may be interfering with the way the door functions.
Garage Door Springs. The springs that lift the garage door will need to be sprayed. These springs are working day in and day out. Only use enough lubricant to help them move easier and make sure the lubricant isn’t dripping.
Garage Door Hinges. Steel hinges at the pivot points will need to be lubricated, but ignore any plastic ones because plastic doesn’t need to be lubricated. If it does, you run the risk of the hinges breaking down over time.
Garage Door Rollers. Nylon rollers shouldn’t be lubricated. Only lubricate the bearings themselves. Rollers made of steel don’t need as much precision. Just make sure any extra lubricant is wiped away to keep it from dripping on the garage door or on the car.
Garage Door Locks. If the lock is hard to open or the key sticks, you can spray a bit of lubricant into the tumbler and other moving parts.
After you have applied lubricant to all the areas needed it’s a good idea to open and close the door a few times to make sure the lubricant is evenly distributed. If you keep hearing noise, then locate where the noise is coming from and apply more lubricant.
Best Garage Door Lubricant
Do not use WD-40 on your garage door parts. WD-40 is confusing when it comes to the way it can be used. This product has degreasing and rust-destroying properties along with the lubricant because it usually aides metal parts in moving better. This happens from the cleaning and not from actual lubrication. It’s better to use a white lithium grease or a silicone spray to lubricate all the moving parts of your garage door because there’s so many small moving parts. It’s best to use aerosols to really get into those small parts. These materials are also less likely to attract dust or gum up.
Garage Door Maintenance & More in Las Vegas, Summerlin, North LV & Henderson Nevada
Your garage door is one of the largest moving parts on your home and getting used to the noise isn’t a good thing. It’s not normal, so don’t keep putting it off. Using the right lubricants will leave your garage door quiet when you come home from work and therefore less stressed about any issues that might be going on. If you continue to have issues, contact Quality Garage Door Repair for help.
