How to Lubricate Your Noisy Garage Door
If you own a home with a garage, you may know just how loud a garage door can be. Garage doors that aren’t lubricated regularly can become noisy and stop working properly over time. The best way to keep the noise of your door down and extend its life span is by lubricating your garage door’s metal parts at least every six months.
What Causes Garage Door Noise?
Many elements must work together for a garage door to open and close properly. Nearly all of these parts are made of metal and can create friction if they are not lubricated properly.
What to Do Before Using Lubricant
There are several important actions to complete pre-lubrication to ensure safety and success.
1. Disconnect Power
Possibly the most important action to complete is to ensure that you’ve completely disconnected your garage door from power. That way, you’ll avoid the door opening or closing on you while you work.
2. Tighten Hardware
After disconnecting the power to your door, tighten your door’s hardware as needed. Additionally, check for any parts that are worn and have them replaced if necessary.
3. Clean Door Parts
To ensure that lubrication is applied effectively, clean every part of your door, from nuts and bolts to the chains and tracks. Cleaning will also prevent dirt buildup from causing rollers and springs to shake and make additional noise in the future.
What’s the Best Type of Garage Door Lubricant?
Lubricating your garage door starts with the right product. Two types of garage door lubricants to use are:
- Silicone sprays: These sprays typically have a long thin straw to keep the spray contained and work great in small spaces.
- White lithium grease: This product allows for application by hand, making it easier to spread on the needed area evenly.
Where to Lubricate the Garage Door
Knowing the hotspots of friction can help you to apply lubrication in the correct places and increase your chances of lessening garage door noise. During lubrication, focus on these areas:
- Hinges: Concentrate on where they meet the bend of your door track.
- Rollers: Use the straw that comes with the lubricant container to get into smaller areas of the rollers.
- Top of the rail where the chain rides: For increased effectiveness, spread the lubricant around with a rag.
You won’t need to lubricate the chain itself since it already has a natural grease lubricant.
Contact Hunter Door Today
For best results, contact Hunter Door to have a professional lubricate your garage door. Request a service estimate today!