Proper maintenance should be performed to ensure that your garage door continues to function efficiently at all times. One recommended maintenance step is the periodic lubrication of the door, which is quite simple yet essential as wear and tear are minimized. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the 7 steps, ensuring you systematically tackle the process. From choosing the proper lubricant to applying it to specific places, you will be amazed at how easy the task will be. For details, you may follow our other guide, titled ‘How to Lubricate Garage Door: Best Practices, ‘ so you know exactly what to do. If such steps are observed, the garage door will operate well and for a long time.
Lubricating Your Garage Door: 7 Essential Tips
1. Gather necessary tools
Before performing any lubrication to your garage door, organizing all the appropriate tools and materials required to accomplish these tasks is essential. First, buy a good quality lubricant that is recommended for the garage door or metal parts. People should not buy it as it is a WD40. This is because you will use it to wipe the dirt or debris from the moving parts before applying the lubricant.
A step ladder will also be handy for accessing higher parts, such as the springs and tracks. Lastly, a small brush or toothbrush may be convenient for dusting the dirt that sticks to the parts. By ensuring everything is ready sooner, the lubrication process is made faster and far more efficient.
2. Clean the tracks
First, before applying any lubricant, we must ensure that the garage door tracks are adequately cleaned. Over time, dirt, dust, and other unnecessary impurities affect the friction and, consequently, the smooth functioning of the moving parts. Run the tracks with a dry cloth to remove dust and other hung-up particles. Next, degreasing agents should be applied to remove tarnished dirt or dust.
Do not apply any lubricant inside the tracks; it will create a mess and attract dust. Instead of using lubricants, one should make the railings devoid of grease moisture to enhance the rollers’ movements. Now that everything is striped and clean, you can lubricate those moving parts for better overall functioning of the door.
3. Apply lubricant evenly
Applying an even coat of lubricant when you open and close your garage door is critical. To begin with, the lubricant should be well-shaken before use. When doing this, pay attention and do not squeeze the can more than you have to. Start with the moving parts, the hinges, rollers, and springs, without drenching all the surfaces. Try as much as possible to avoid excessive spraying in one area, as this might become one such common garage repair problem after a while.
Once done, wipe the excess with a cloth for places where you have applied more than enough lubricant. When you are done coating the lubricant on the sliding door, try sliding it a few times to distribute it evenly among all the movable components.
4. Focus on hinges
When applying lubricant to your garage door parts, the hinges must be well-considered. All doors have hinges that assist in moving the door panels, as they can swing open and close on those hinges. Begin by identifying the hinges on the side and upper part of the door. Place a few drops of lubricant on each hinge around its rotation axis and ensure it will absorb into the inside moving parts. This is necessary to reduce the amount of resistance during the operation of these parts of the door.
At the same time, it is favorable to manually move the door in all directions for a few cycles to spread the mass evenly across all hinges. Do not use excess oil because it will dirty the door and other things, and both might lead to poor functioning.
5. Lubricate the rollers
Lubricating the garage door rollers should not be overlooked since they are crucial components that need serious attention. These parts of the door ensure that the garage door moves quickly. Fold these pieces outwards to examine them for dirt or damage. Use a rag to wipe off any dirt or other substance that may be present.
After this step, ensure that an appropriate roller lubricant is used. This increases lubrication efficiency because it enhances the free movement of these round slides. At the same time, avoid pouring in excess since such substances can also collect dust. This can cause more trouble than the existing issues. Dust and other debris can prevent lubricated rollers from contributing positively to the door’s smooth operation.
6. Grease the springs
Greasing the springs on a garage door system is crucial in ensuring it remains operational. First, try to locate the springs depending on your type of garage door system. High-quality grease for metals should primarily be used here; do not use duct tape or other light oils since they are not secure enough.
In all cases, the task involves turning the door by hand several times to evenly distribute the grease into the spring coils. This minimizes the wear and tear caused by rust, as the springs will work for a considerable period.
7. Wipe off excess
Removing the excess layer is crucial when one is done lubricating the garage door. If not done priorly, it may lead to a buildup, ultimately hindering proper door functioning. As a result, remove any excess forces that help lubricate the tracks, rollers, and other components with a clean, dry fabric. This means that only that required amount of lubricant is left, ensuring free movement and less chance of dirt getting trapped.
Be mindful and ensure that all the parts where lubrication was applied are cleaned well. This will enhance the door’s efficiency, which in turn will help ensure that the garage door operates in the best possible state.
Closing Lines
Garage door lubrication is simple but crucial in maintaining the doors’ functionality and lifespan. Several procedures and practices are essential in preserving the performance of a door and reducing maintenance costs by following it. These activities, from tool collection to excess lubricant removal, are interrelated in the ending maintenance process. However, lubricating the garage door now and then, along with regular checks, will keep the garage door in good working order for a long time.
Author’s Bio
Liz primarily engages in content marketing but focuses on creating warm and welcoming living spaces. She makes the information available to her audience in an easy way for those who want to beautify their homes. Currently, she is involved with garage door repair granite falls through her partnership with Elite Garage Door & Gate Repair.
