Maintenance Tips

The moving parts on your garage door are what need the lubrication; the hinges and springs are most important.

Garage Door Failure

Has your garage door or garage door opener ever failed you? If so you probably quickly realized what a luxury having an automatic garage door is. The garage door opener is not something we give any extra thought to until we are trapped in the garage and need out ASAP.

Can I Prevent Garage Door Repairs?

The answer is yes and no, you can prolong the life of the major parts and catch potential issues before they become a major problem or safety concern, but eventually father time will have his way.

Lubricating Your Garage Door

There are only a few things a home owner can do to keep their overhead garage door in optimal operating condition, and none of them are very difficult, most people simply do not know what to do. Lubricating your garage door is vital.

Naturally, that brings some questions, question number 1 generally is what kind of lubricant should I use, and where can I buy it?

You will want to use white lithium grease you may buy this at Wal-mart, or your local hardware store. Some brands make specific Garage door lube.

Where do I Lube My Garage Door?

DO NOT Grease The Track

It used to be commonplace for people to grease the tracks of their garage door, in an effort to get the door to slide easier. Well your overhead door is suppose to roll not slide so if it’s not rolling there is another issue at hand and you should call a professional not attempt to mask the problem. Greasing the track can actually make the door stick in the winter time, which could lead to a costly panel repair or replacement when your garage door opener attempts to open the door that’s stuck shut.

Lube Hinges and Springs

The moving parts on your garage door are what need the lubrication: the hinges and springs are key here.

Inspect Hinges to ensure they are not cracked or loose. Tighten or replace as needed.

Be sure to spray the springs overhead of your garage door liberally. If you see a broken spring , call a professional ASAP.

The only other part of the door that may need some lube would be your rollers, only lubricate the rollers if they are made of plastic and have no bearings in them.

How Often Should I Lube My Garage Door?

You should lubricate your door every 6 months.

Inspect and Balance Test Your Garage Door

First thing to do is a visual inspection of your garage door and all its parts.

We already discussed the hinges and springs, but you should also make sure the wheel isn’t coming disconnected from the shaft on the rollers, as this can cause an off track door. Also, be sure to check your cables from top to bottom ( this may require a step ladder.) to ensure they are not fraying.

Lastly, disconnect your opener from your garage door (Only when its closed!) and lift your door up halfway and let go. If your door just sits there it is balanced. If your door falls it is what we call a “heavy door” and you should call a professional immediately . A heavy door can put unnecessary strain on your opener and other parts of the door or even worse cause injury to a family member or pet.