How to Lubricate a Garage Door: Cincinnati Garage Door Maintenance

How to Lubricate a Garage Door: Cincinnati Garage Door Maintenance

You know the sound. It’s the terrible, ear-piercing “screeeech” your garage door makes every time it goes up and down. That horrible sound is actually the metal parts of your garage door wearing against each other over time. Cincinnati garage door maintenance isn’t difficult, and you don’t have to do it all that often; maybe once every two years. It turns out that just some mild lubrication can go a long way towards lengthening the life of your garage door and its components. Here is how to lubricate a garage door:

How to Lubricate a Garage Door, Step 1:

Purchase a lithium-based grease or garage door spray, such as Blaster White Lithium Grease. WD-40 isn’t best for this type of lubrication, and won’t last as long. Aerosol cans of lubricant such as “Blaster” generally run anywhere from five to ten dollars. Additionally, one can should be more than enough to complete the job on your garage door.

How to Lubricate a Garage Door, Step 2:

Unplug your garage door opener, and use the emergency release cord to disengage the door from the opener. This will prevent the door from accidentally moving while you lubricate your garage door.

How to Lubricate a Garage Door, Step 3:

Clean the tracks of your garage door using a rag, a little dish soap, and water. The tracks don’t need to be lubricated, but they do need to be cleared of debris, spiderwebs, and other material that can get stuck inside of them from season to season. Vacuuming them before wiping them down may help if they are particularly dirty.

How to Lubricate a Garage Door, Step 4:

Spray a small amount of lubricant on the hinges of your garage door. It may be helpful to open the garage door slightly and apply the lubricant to the hinges as the sections of your door begin to pivot.

How to Lubricate a Garage Door, Step 5:

If you have white, nylon-coated rollers you do not need to lubricate them, as their bearings are sealed and already lubricated. If you have metal or black nylon rollers, spray a small amount of lubricant on the bearings or the shaft of the roller.

How to Lubricate a Garage Door, Step 6:

Spray the top of your door springs with an even coating of lubricant. Use a rag to spread the grease around the spring from top to bottom.

How to Lubricate a Garage Door, Step 7:

Apply a small amount of lubricant to the center of your bearing plates.

How to Lubricate a Garage Door, Step 8:

Re-engage your door to the opener, and plug your garage door opener back in.

How to Lubricate a Garage Door, Step 9:

Open and close your garage door two or three times. This will help distribute the lubrication across the important surfaces.

Cincinnati Garage Door Maintenance

If you would like some assistance maintaining your garage door, or have any other home repair needs, hail a Home Repair Hero! Our ProMaster craftsmen would love to help you with whatever issues you need taken care of. You can schedule service online, use the “reach out” form at the bottom of the page, or call 513-322-2914.