How To Properly Lubricate Garage Door Rollers

Commercial and residential garage doors contain numerous moving parts that ease the panels’ up-and-down or side-to-side movements. You can protect those smooth, predictable movements by lubricating garage door rollers regularly. It’s one of several simple maintenance tasks that protect the machinery, ensuring it works long-term.

Action Overhead Door Inc. specializes in garage door service in Louisville, KY. If you don’t know how to lubricate the moving parts, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll instruct you on lubricating the rollers and cover some other maintenance tips below.

What Do the Garage Door Rollers Do?

Garage door rollers are small, wheel-like mechanisms with tough metal posts in the center. You wouldn’t know just by looking at them, but these pieces support and move the garage door’s entire weight. The wheel component rolls on a track to raise and lower the door panels.

With so much pressure and force riding on these parts, regular garage door roller lubrication is a must. Once you start hearing abnormal noises, you need to grab a can of lubricant to lessen the friction. 

Types of Garage Door Rollers

Before you dive into any preventive maintenance for garage doors, you should learn more about your system. First, look for the owner’s manual for your model. It may contain pertinent information about products you can use alongside the instructions. 

Next, inspect the garage door rollers to figure out what type you have:

• Nylon: This synthetic material boasts the smoothest and quietest performance. Since they glide more readily, they may not need lubrication as frequently. 
• Plastic: Lubricating garage door rollers made of plastic might earn more service life, but this material has the shortest lifespan. They also make more noise than nylon on a good day. 
• Steel: Steel rollers last much longer than the other two options. However, they have poorer performance than nylon and can become very noisy.

The roller material matters because it dictates how often you should lubricate the rollers and what noise level is normal. 

Lubricating Your Garage Door Rollers for Maintenance

Noise reduction for door rollers starts with consistent lubrication, which is garage door proper maintenance 101 for property owners. How do you go about keeping the rollers well-oiled and gliding smoothly? Let’s start by gathering the materials you will need to perform this simple task. 

Materials To Gather

What does this quick maintenance project require? You’ll need the following items:

• The right lubrication product: Avoid oil-based lubricants, like WD-40, as they might degrease the rollers. Rollers need a thick coat of grease, so formulas with silicone or lithium bases will work best. 
• Drop cloth: You need a tarp or another coverage material beneath your workspace unless you want stains on the floor. The drop cloth will catch and absorb any lubricant that drips from the rollers. 
• Old rag: You might get your hands dirty doing garage door maintenance! Have an old rag on hand or wear gloves to keep your hands clean and dust the tracks.
• Ladder: You may need a leg-up when lubricating garage doors by yourself. Have a stepping stool or ladder ready to give you a boost. 
• Screwdriver or power drill: Before you lubricate, you should check for loose screws or bolts. You’ll need one of these tools to adjust the components. 

Once you have these items ready, just follow the guide below for proper lubricant application.

Preparation

Safety is essential for every household or commercial property maintenance task. Prepare your work area by:

1. Closing the door. You can more easily and safely reach the rollers on a closed door. 
2. Cutting the power supply. You don’t want the door moving while you apply lubricant, or you might end up with mashed fingers. 
3. Wiping the tracks. Greasy lubricant mixed with dust and dirt creates a nasty mix that can damage the tracks and rollers. Dust the tracks for a cleaner surface. 
4. Tightening any loose screws or bolts. Check for loose connectors, and use the screwdriver or drill to tighten them. 
5. Inspecting for any obvious concerns. Give all the machinery, devices, and individual components a quick once-over to determine whether you should involve a technician. 

Now, you can start lubricating garage door rollers on your door after these preparatory steps. 

How To Lubricate the Rollers

Applying lubrication for noiseless, smooth roller operation is fairly simple. 

1. Put the formula on the garage door rollers. Use the ladder if needed.
2. Massage the product onto the components with the cloth or your fingers. 
3. Lubricate the hinges, springs, and bearing plates for additional glide.
4. Put lubricant inside the chain rail and on the lock and armbar.
5. Rub the lubricant thoroughly along those pieces as well.

Then, return power to your garage door and open it. It should make much less noise than before. 

Other Easy Upkeep Tasks To Help You Protect Garage Door Performance

What else can you do to protect your garage door’s performance and avoid repairs? You’ll find some helpful garage door upkeep tips listed below:

1. Keep it clean. Gently knock debris loose from the tracks and opener device. Sweep the floors beneath the door system. 
2. Inspect the door system. Look for noticeable damage, loose pieces, and corrosion. 
3. Check and test the safety sensors. Safety sensors are on either side of the door at about knee height. Put a box between them, close the door, and see whether they detect the obstacle. 
4. Look for loose bits. If you come across loose pieces during your inspections, gently tighten them. 
5. Perform maintenance every four to six months. Doing these tasks consistently familiarizes you with what is and isn’t normal for your system. 

Remember, your maintenance efforts help but do not replace professional tune-ups. Action Overhead Door Inc. has you covered for that. 

Ask Action Overhead Door Inc. About Commercial and Residential Garage Door Services for Your Property

Lubricating garage door rollers is just part of what keeps your garage door working predictably. Professional garage door maintenance helps you get more years of fantastic performance. Call Action Overhead Door Inc. at 502-955-7725 for professional services in Louisville, Kentucky.