Why you need to know some tips about how to lubricate garage door? Let me explain the reason. It is never been pleasing to hear squeaky noise from the garage door. As the time goes by, the brand new garage door might lack of grease. It needs to be maintained regularly, so it functions normally.
Moreover, giving such treatment will avoid any worse damage in the future. The maintenance is simple, so anyone can do it well. The maintenance processes are divided into two big parts, which are clearing up and lubricating.
Read also: HOW TO INSULATE A GARAGE DOOR PROPERLY
Part 1: Clearing Up Tracks from Any Dirt
1. Get the garage door closed properly.
First of all, you shall get the garage door closed. Either doing it manually or using remote to make it close automatically, you need to make sure it is closed properly. Unless you close it properly, you will not be able to continue the process to lubricate the garage door.
Therefore, please re-check it one more time before you go on to the next point. Closing it properly will help you to get the access to all moving parts on the door. Also, you can take a look on the track, in which all dirt are spread.
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2. Turn off the Power or Any Electricity that is Connected to The Door
It is definitely true that safety is the first thing that someone needs to consider before doing house chores like this. Therefore, before applying the lubricant into the door, please check the electricity one more time.
Another idea, you can simply disconnect the power source in the garage to your door. This part might take extra energy and extra thing to do.
However, it is important to avoid the electricity and water meets. When they do, it might be black out or even worse. If its plug is too stiff, you can take the circuit box and find a breaker used to control from the inside.
3. It’s Time to Clean Tracks From Any Dirt, Dust, and So On
After making sure that garage door is closed properly and the power that is connected to the door turned off already, it is time to take wet fabric. What you need to do next is cleaning the tracks out of dirt, dust, and so on.
When you ride the train, it will pass through railway tracks. It happens the same to the garage door. The door will open and close by rolling on the track. No need to lubricate anything yet, the main focus is still in cleaning the tracks from any dirt.
4. Take That Vacuum Cleaner to Absorb Any Left Debris
Some dirt and dust at home cannot be easily cleaned up using damp rag. You might consider using vacuum cleaner as your partner in cleaning the house. It can absorb dirt and dust that are not reachable using the rag. There is one type of vacuum in which equipped with a hose extension.
This extension is used for taking out dirt and debris inside the tracks. Not only for taking the small dirt and debris, you can use the vacuum cleaner in the whole process, because this one is easier to do it.
Part 2: Prepare the Moving Parts of the Door and Ready to Clean It Up
5. Garage Door Lube and Lithium-based Grease are Recommended
Nowadays, what people know about the best product to lubricate the garage door is WD-40. The fact is it is standard degreasers that will not work well for maintaining the garage door. Instead, you can get yourself lithium-based grease online or at a hardware store, to get a better product.
Furthermore, you can also find some grease that specifically made for maintaining garage doors. Important notes: never use oil to lubricate the garage door. It will not work at all; it will make the door become more fragile toward dust and dirt. Even more, it will drop to the floor soon.
6. Now, You Can Open The Door to Spray Hinges
Previously, you have done in cleaning the tracks of the door. Now, you can open the door. Rather than doing it automatically, it is more recommended to lift it manually. The purpose of it is to make you able to spray the lubricant easily.
Spray it to each hinge. This part is the source of the noise you usually hear when your door is lack of grease. Therefore, applying lubricant on hinges will let the door open and close smoother than before, and of course without any sound. Apply one or two spray for each. No need to apply much.
7. After Applying on Hinges, Spray the Rollers As Well
The fact is the moving part of garage door is not the hinge itself, but also the rollers. Therefore, applying lubricant on the rollers are also necessary. Rollers are that pieces of your garage door that circularly moving. Those are connected to each of the hinges.
If you take a look on those rollers, you will find out that there are small ball bearings inside. They need to lubricate as well to smooth the process of opening and closing the door. You may use a thin hose attachment to reach its part and spray it well. One or two spray will be enough for each part.
8. Next Part to be Sprayed is Bearing Plates and Outer Springs.
Springs are part of the door that is located on the top side of the door. It is also necessary to lubricate it. Meanwhile, bearing plates are ones that connect to springs and moving circularly.
Spray those two parts and help the spread of the grease by opening and closing the garage door manually. Get yourself a step ladder to support you reaching the top of the door, especially those bearing plates and springs. If only springs are broken, it is better to replace it rather than keep on lubricating it.
9. Go Down From the Ladder, It’s Time to Spray Arm Bar and Lock.
Everyone in the house must have experienced the stuck moment when they locked the door. Spraying some lubricant in the lock will help to overcome the problem.
The lock will be locked smoother and easier than before. Furthermore, it will avoid the lock from long term rust. Also, spray the lubricant on the arm bar to complete your greasing process of your garage door.
