Does your garage door make noise when it opens? Okay, of course, it does – But does it make a lot of noise? Is there screeching and banging every time you get home from a hard day on the job? You’re not the only one to deal with this trouble. Everyone who’s owned a garage has dealt with a noisy garage door at some point or another. Luckily all you need to do is follow this guide to learn some easy ways to lubricate your garage door. How do you lubricate your garage door? Why do you need to lubricate your garage door in the first place? Glad you asked!
Usually, a garage door can become loud and obnoxiously squeaky, and screechy because of improper maintenance. If you leave it ungreased, you’re putting your garage door at risk for serious damage down the line. Luckily you can prevent the noise and extend the life of your garage door and your garage door opening system with a good maintenance and lubrication routine.
Of course, if you prefer, you can call Straight Up today to have your garage door needs met fast, affordably, and professionally. With that out of the way, let’s do some pre-lube checks.
Pre-Lubrication Checklist
Before you actually start, be sure to check a few basic problem areas to make sure your garage door won’t have any other problems. Before you start this, be sure to close your garage door and leave it closed for the duration, and unplug the opening unit to prevent any accidents.
- Check the Spring – Your garage door is connected to a high tension spring. If it looks bent or damaged in any way, stay away! Call a professional. Those springs are highly dangerous in a state of disrepair.
- Tighten Everything – Your garage door and garage door opening system are held together with nuts and bolts. Be sure to tighten them flush, but not overly tight as this can damage the nuts.
- Check Your Rollers and Tracks – Since the ball or pin bearings that help your roller glide along tend to be unsealed, they collect grease and dirt, and heaven knows what else. Be sure they’re clean, as these can be a source of friction and noise.
- Check The Hinges – Hinges will wear down over time. Friction and temperature changes can make your hinges noisy.
- Tighten your System’s Drive Chain – A loose chain or belt can lead to sudden banging noises and jerking tugs of your garage door. This is a very important step to be sure you complete.
Now we can begin lubricating! Grab your favorite lithium or silicon grease spray and skip the WD-40 – Believe it or not, it’s not really a proper lubricant!
Step-by-Step Lubrication
- Wipe the tracks. These should never be greased, as it can cause the rollers to slip and puts extra strain on your opener. Remove as much grease and dirt as you can.
- Thoroughly lubricate the hinges of your garage door – Every one of them.
- Lubricate the rollers themselves. The bearings should also be greased, and once you’ve lubricated them, be sure to wipe up any excess from the tracks.
- Lubricate bearing plates and the torsion spring. Be sure to open and close your door a few times completely, so the lubricant spreads evenly.
- Lubricate the lock and armbar in case you need to manually open your garage door.
- Apply grease on top of the rail, where the chain rests. Spread this grease with a rag, but do not lubricate the chain itself as this can interfere with its special coating.
This should be done every six months, and if the process seems like a lot, but it’s essential. If you’d rather have the professional touch, Straight Up is here for all your garage door maintenance needs. Give us a call today, and we’ll do it for you!
