How-To: Lubricating Your Garage Door

Today, let’s learn how to maintain your garage door system with a little lubrication.

First of all, visually inspect your garage door. Look for any worn parts. To see if your door is in good working order, disengage the door opener by pulling on the cord found on the trolley. Manually test your door. It shouldn’t feel too heavy, and it shouldn’t slam shut. If your door is difficult to lift, it needs to be adjusted by a qualified technician. Contact us for a full garage door system inspection and maintenance.

Now, if your door is working properly, it’s time to lubricate. Choose a lubricant intended for metal parts, or motor oil like 5W30.

Rollers

Not all rollers need to be oiled. Here are our guidelines for various types of rollers:

• Steel rollers with white nylon coverings: do not oil. Ball bearings on this type of roller are already sealed.
• Steel rollers without coverings: apply a small amount of oil directly on the ball bearings.
• Black nylon rollers: since these rollers don’t have ball bearings, apply a little oil between the rollers and shaft.

Hinges

Apply a little metal lubricant to the moving parts of all hinges. Brackets, found at the top and bottom of your garage door, can also be lightly lubricated.

Springs

Extension and torsion springs both need to be oiled regularly. This helps reduce friction and noise caused by the spring coils’ movements. Rub a little oil, starting at the top of each spring. Lightly coat it with oil. Use a cloth to prevent any excess oil from leaking down your garage door or onto the floor. We recommend oiling springs ahead of both winter and summer. Humidity can speed up rusting on metal parts, which can damage garage door springs and hinges.

Tracks

Do not over lubricate your garage door tracks. A drop or two of oil on each horizontal span is enough. The movement of the rollers on the tracks helps to spread the oil.

Other Areas to Monitor

There are a few more components that need to be inspected regularly:

• The center plates found above the door can be lightly oiled if needed. These plates are part of the torsion spring system and support the tube or shaft at the center of the garage door.
• Check for signs of wear and tear on lift cables and drum coils. These parts don’t require any oil, but should be free of rust or other damage.

Automatic Garage Door Openers

There are two categories of garage door openers on the market: belt drives and chain drives.

Belt drives don’t need to be lubricated. When first installed, a lubricant is applied to all essential areas, like the drive sprockets on the trolley. That first application is the only one required.

Chain drives, on the other hand, need to be maintained regularly. We advise using a white grease lubricant instead of oil for chain drive openers. Chain drives – which work not unlike a bicycle chain – can come equipped with a complete chain, or one secured to a steel cable. Rub the white grease lubricant on the complete length of chain. A cloth works best.

While maintaining your door opener, it’s a good time to tighten the bolts found on the trolley to ensure they are secure.

If you would prefer a professional maintenance and lubrication, please contact us; our professionals only use the best products for each specific garage door component.

Proper Maintenance Means a Safe, Long‑Lasting Garage Door

We suggest following the above steps twice annually. A little lubrication helps reduce friction, which can damage your garage door system over time. Your garage door will also be safer for you and your family to use if it’s inspected and maintained on a regular basis.

For a new garage door or door opener, to book a preventative maintenance package or for garage door repairs, please complete our convenient online form. We are also happy to provide a free estimate by calling us at 905-684-8161. Our team is standing by, and is looking forward to serving you.