How to Lubricate Your Noisy Garage Door

A newly installed garage door can be nearly silent, but that noise level will increase as a garage door gets older. When those noises really start to become an annoyance, there might be something wrong that requires the attention of a garage door professional.

A very common cause of a noisy garage door is that there are parts out of place that is causing friction. There may be a need for lubrication that will allow the door to move more freely.

Routine garage door maintenance is very important when it comes to extending the life of your door. It can also ensure that your door is functioning as intended.

Has your noisy garage door ever needed lubrication and you wondered what this process includes?

Read on to find out more about lubricating your garage door, including the benefits it provides and what parts should be lubricated.

Garage Door Lubrication Basics

Lubrication of your garage door reduces the amount of friction that occurs between the different parts that move when you open and close the door.

This will usually eliminate any odd sounds that are occurring. This is also an important process that can prevent rusting from occurring as well as premature wear and tear on certain parts.

In general, your garage door rollers should be lubricated once every six months. This is the amount of time that most products will last before they break down or aren’t present anymore.

If you’re lubricating the tracks, once per year is practical. It’s a good idea to check the label of the lubricant you’re using. Most brands will tell you how long their product lasts.

There are different types of lubricating products that you can utilize for your noisy garage door. This includes lithium grease and a Teflon dry spray, just to name a few.

The Benefits of Lubricating Your Garage Door

Aside from reducing the noise of your garage door, there are some benefits to take into consideration if you’re thinking about having this maintenance performed.

Easier Movements

If there is friction between two parts of your garage door, lubrication will allow for easier movement. Even if noises aren’t present, allowing for easier movements will protect your garage door and its parts.

Reducing Pressure

A good quality garage door lubrication on parts like hinges will increase the flexibility of the parts and reduce the pressure that exists on the rollers and tracks.

Eliminating Noisy Garage Door Sounds

If the springs on your garage door are dry, loud noises will start to present themselves when the door opens and closes. Noises are a nuisance, but this can also cause garage door dangers.

Dry springs are prone to snapping. There’s no real way to tell when that would happen, and it could put somebody in danger if they’re nearby. Lubrication will keep noises at bay while increasing protection.

Prevention of Rust

Metal rubbing against metal causes erosion at a faster rate. If you want to prevent parts from breaking down on your garage door, you’ll need to keep up with lubrication.

How to Lubricate Your Garage Door Based on the Part

We’ve talked a bit about the importance of lubricating your garage door, but now it’s time to review the actual parts that should be lubricated.

It’s important to take into account the part that you’re maintaining so you can choose the right product and adhere to a proper timeline.

Tracks

The tracks that are part of your garage door system are where the door itself will slide up and down.

Cleaning them and lubricating them should occur yearly.

Cleaning the tracks helps to get rid of any dirt or debris that could be slowing things down.

If you don’t do this, lubrication won’t be as effective. In fact, it would just cause a very gummed-up surface that could be prone to damage.

Springs

The springs of a garage door see a lot of action as your door opens and closes. Because of this, they often need to be replaced.

You can prevent the need for replacement by adding lubrication.

However, there’s a distinct amount that isn’t too much but it’s still effective.

Hinges

Only lubricate hinges on your garage door if they are made of metal.

You may have plastic hinges, but these should be left alone.

Certain lubricants can actually eat away at the plastic which would result in the need for replacement.

Rollers

Rollers are necessary for carrying your garage door from the open position to the closed position and back again.

If the rollers aren’t lubricated, this would require more effort for movement to occur.

Bearings may also need to be lubricated depending on the type that you have on your door (nylon requires this).

Locks

Lubricating the locks on your garage door isn’t necessarily something that you need to do every six months to a year, but it doesn’t hurt.

Locks can start to seize up over time, so watch out for a lock that isn’t opening or closing as easily as it once did.