How Often Should You Lubricate Your Garage Door Rollers and Tracks?

Garage door maintenance is probably the last thing on your mind. That is until the day you’re in a rush to get to work and the garage door won’t open or does so very begrudgingly! 

To avoid this situation, prompt garage door roller repair and regular maintenance should be done consistently to keep everything operating smoothly.

Safety First!

Working with garage doors can be dangerous and any malfunctions could seriously injure you or others working with you. Be sure to consult the manual of your garage door before attempting to perform any garage door roller maintenance.

Some maintenance should only be performed by trained technicians in garage door roller services, therefore never attempt to adjust the torsion springs on your own, but instead call a professional, like those at Ohana Garage Doors.

How To Lubricate Garage Door Rollers and Tracks?

Due to the constant use of your garage door as you go in and out every day, the components, including garage door rollers and tracks, need a little TLC to maintain their normal operation.

Prior to working on any part of your garage door, it is advised to remove your vehicles. The tools you will need are garage door lubricant, disposable gloves, an old toothbrush, paper towels or old rags, and a ladder.

Lubricating the Rollers

With the garage door closed, you will inspect all the rollers looking for signs of rust, excessive wear, or breakage. Rollers should always be perpendicular to the stem, rotating smoothly around the axis; any wobble indicates it needs replacing immediately.

If you have metal rollers, use the toothbrush to scrub the roller to remove any grease that may have built up, then use a rag to wipe the rollers clean. Next, using only a garage door lubricant, spray the rollers with a thin layer. 

Rollers that are nylon have sealed bearings and don’t need any additional lubrication. Incidentally, they last longer and are much quieter than metal rollers. Click here to learn more.

Track Maintenance

Examine the tracks looking for deep dents or twisting that might prohibit a roller from smoothly rolling past. Depending upon the severity, it may need replacing and it is best to call a professional to handle that. If you are free from any issues, continue your examination looking for excessive buildup of grease or lubricant in the track well, and use a rag to remove it. Then apply a fresh thin layer of lubricant to the tracks avoiding overuse; more is not always better!

Once you have lubricated the garage door rollers and tracks, open and close the door to spread the lubricant around a bit more.

How Often is Maintenance Recommended?

With regular use – opening and closing your garage door once or twice a day – you should lubricate the hinges, springs, rollers and tracks once a year. However, with excessive use – opening and closing your garage door multiple times a day – you need to lubricate every six months.

Maintain Your Garage Door Today

Now that you know how to lubricate garage door rollers and tracks, and why it’s important you might be thinking, “I don’t have time to do lubricate my roller and tracks” or “I don’t want to handle the maintenance”.

That’s where our garage door company comes in. We can relieve you of the burden of handling this vital operation. In fact, while we are at it, we will give your entire garage door system a full inspection, which includes your door and opener and all their moving parts.

Reach out to us today at 281-623-4335 or fill out the contact form to schedule your appointment.

Looking for garage door roller replacement in Katy, TX, or need a new opener? We can help there too.