A garage door that squeaks, sticks, or doesn’t open and close smoothly is not only a nuisance, but it can also be a safety hazard. If your garage door isn’t operating smoothly, it’s probably time to give it a little lubrication.
By taking care of this simple maintenance task, you can keep your garage door running smoothly for years to come.
What You'll Learn Today
Do Garage Doors Need to be Greased?
As any homeowner knows, regular maintenance is essential for keeping your house in good condition.
From painting the shutters to changing the furnace filter, there are a number of tasks that need to be done on a regular basis.
One question that often comes up is whether or not garage doors need to be greased. The answer is that it depends on the type of garage door you have.
If you have a steel garage door, then you will need to grease the hinges and tracks on a regular basis. This will help to prevent rust and keep the door moving smoothly.
However, if you have an aluminum or fiberglass door, then you don’t need to worry about greasing it. The only time you would need to grease these types of doors is if they start to squeak.
Ultimately, whether or not you need to grease your garage door depends on the material it is made from. That said, greasing the garage door doesn’t hurt – and it can make your garage door work much better and increase its lifespan for many years to come.
With a little bit of care and maintenance, your garage door will last for years to come.
Not sure if your garage door needs to be greased? If it’s noisy, it probably does. Here’s a video to walk you through the process of lubricating it:
What is the Best Way to Lubricate Garage Doors?
The first step is to identify the problem areas. Start by opening and closing the door several times to see where it’s sticking or making noise. Once you’ve identified the problem areas, it’s time to start lubricating. You’ll need a good quality silicone-based lubricant—something like WD-40 will work fine.
There are two types of lubricants that can be used on garage doors: petroleum-based and silicone-based. Petroleum-based lubricants are cheaper and easier to find, but they can attract dust and dirt. Silicone-based lubricants are more expensive, but they don’t attract as much dust and dirt.
Avoid using oils or grease because they can attract dirt and dust, which can further complicate the problem. Another ideal type of grease to use on a garage door is white lithium grease (more on this below).
To lubricate the door, start by spraying WD-40 onto a clean rag and wiping down all of the moving parts—the hinges, rollers, pulleys, etc. Once you’ve covered all of the moving parts, open and close the door a few times to work the lubricant into the problem areas. You may need to apply more WD-40 if the door is still sticking or making noise.
If your garage door has nylon rollers, you may want to consider replacing them with steel rollers.
Nylon rollers tend to wear out faster than steel rollers and can cause more friction, which can lead to more noise and sticking. Replacing nylon rollers is a pretty easy DIY job—You can find replacement rollers at most hardware stores.
What Kind of Grease Do You Use to Grease a Garage Door?
All garage doors need to be properly lubricated in order to function properly. Without grease, the door will become stuck and may eventually break. However, not all greases are created equal.
The best type of grease to use on a garage door is white lithium grease. This type of grease is designed to withstand high temperatures and will not break down like other types of grease. In addition, white lithium grease is resistant to water and will not wash away as easily as other types of grease.
As a result, it is the best type of grease to use to ensure that your garage door remains in good working condition.
White lithium grease is a popular choice for greasing garage doors, but it’s not the only option.
There are a variety of greases that can be used to lubricate the moving parts of a garage door, including silicone-based lubricants and WD-40. Each type of grease has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs.
For example, silicone-based lubricants don’t attract dust and dirt like other types of grease, making them ideal for use in dusty environments. WD-40, on the other hand, is a penetrating oil that can help to loosen rusty hinges and reduce friction.
Where Do You Put the Grease on a Garage Door?
On your garage door, there are three main areas that you should lubricate: the track, the hinges, and the rollers.
For the track, you can use a silicone-based lubricant. Apply it to the top of the track, and then wipe away any excess with a clean cloth.
For the hinges, you can use a petroleum-based lubricant.
Apply it to the hinge pins, and then wipe away any excess with a clean cloth.
For the rollers, you can use a synthetic-based lubricant. Apply it to the roller bearings, and then wipe away any excess with a clean cloth.
How Often to Lubricate Garage Door?
As a general rule of thumb, you should lubricate your garage door once a year.
However, if you live in an area with a lot of dust or dirt, you may need to lubricate more often. Likewise, if you live in an area with high humidity, you may need to lubricate less often.
If you’re not sure how often to lubricate your particular garage door, check the owner’s manual for guidance.
Final Thoughts
By taking care of this simple maintenance task, you can keep your garage door running smoothly for years to come. In most cases, all you need is a good quality silicone-based lubricant and a little elbow grease.
If your garage door has nylon rollers, you may want to consider replacing them with steel rollers—they tend to last longer and cause less friction.
With just a little bit of regular maintenance, you can keep your garage door working like new for years to come!
