Tips for Lubing a Garage Door

Garage doors can become noisy and sluggish if you don’t lubricate them. Increased friction can contribute to overall wear and tear as well. To maintain your garage door and reduce the strain on the motor, lubricate moving parts every six months. You can avoid costly repairs, accidents, and premature replacement by following these tips for lubing your garage door:

Prepare to Lubricate Your Garage Door

Before lubricating your garage door system, perform some general maintenance tasks to make sure everything is in working order. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Tighten Loose Parts: Look for loose nuts and bolts and tighten them. Be careful not to overtighten anything and, if something looks excessively worn, replace it or call a garage door technician.
  • Check/Clean the Rollers: Roller bearings are often unsealed and can collect dirt. Clean them if necessary; if a roller is worn out and wobbling in the track, replace it.
  • Inspect the Hinges: Noisy hinges are usually ones that have gone bad. A bad hinge can cause your garage door to get stuck, so it should be fixed/replaced before proceeding.
  • Adjust the Chain: Tighten the garage door opener’s chain if it’s loose, making slapping noises, or also causing the garage door to jerk when moving.

How to Properly Lube a Garage Door

To start, all you need is a store-bought garage door lubricating oil. Have a cleaning rag, an old outfit, a face mask, and gloves/goggles handy. Protective gear will shield you from dirt, allergens, and irritants. Close the garage door and shut off the power to the opener. Then follow these steps:.

  • Clean the Tracks: Use a damp rag to wipe the inside and outside of the garage door tracks. Make sure to remove all dirt and debris. Avoid using lubricant directly on the tracks, as it will strain the rollers and garage door opener. For tiny crevices, use a vacuum cleaner with a small attachment; stubborn dirt can be removed with an automotive brake cleaner.

    It’s also a good idea to quickly wipe down the interior and exterior of the garage door.

    Next, proceed with applying lubricant to the:

  • Hinges: Open the garage door and lubricate each hinge, one at a time. Place the lubricant where each hinge contacts the bend in the track.
  • Rollers: Aside from nylon rollers which should never be lubricated, a garage door roller should be thoroughly lubricated, including its internal ball bearings. Too much lubricant can cause the door to be unbalanced, so wipe the excess away.
  • Springs and Bearing Plates: These components are located at the top of the garage door, so you may need a step ladder; once the compound is applied, slowly open and close the door manually to distribute the lubricant. Apply more if the springs are noisy
  • Armbar and Lock: If these are present, apply lubricant to prevent rust from forming. The compound protects these parts from harsh elements. Also, apply lubricant directly into the keyhole.
  • Garage Door Opener Rail: Grease the top of the rail on which the opener’s chain rides. Apply the lubricant and spread it with a clean rag. Do not put oil directly on the chain; it is already pre-lubricated. Spraying the bottom of the rail is not necessary.

Use the Right Lubricant

When lubing a garage door, use an all-weather product as cold temperatures can cause some lubricants to thicken and increase wear on parts. Silicone sprays have a straw attachment to reach small parts. White lithium grease is effective as well. However, it’s applied by hand so it can be messier, but it is easy to spread around. Mechanic grease, engine oil, and WD-40 or other standard degreasers can collect dirt and dust, so are not suited for lubing garage doors.

Call Mesa For Garage Door Repair

Lubricating your garage door is simple, but contact us if any part of your garage door system appears damaged. We specialize in the installation and repair of all types of garage doors. Get more tips and answers to frequently asked questions or request a free garage door repair quote online. To speak with us directly, call (714) 364-4987 now.

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How Do I Know If Someone Opened My Garage Door?

Has your garage door ever mysteriously opened by itself? If so, you know the unnerving feeling this brings on. It can put your home and family at risk. Therefore, it’s important to solve the problem quickly. Clients facing this issue may ask, “Is there an equipment problem or is it that someone opened my garage door?”

Why Would a Garage Door Open on Its Own?

Modern garage doors have sensors that detect objects. Even small debris or snow and ice can affect them. A blocked sensor can open the garage door, but this is usually when you’re trying to close it and it suddenly goes in reverse.

Another possibility is a problem with the garage door opener. The issue may be with either the wall controls or the remote. If the wall opener button is dirty, it can cause the door to go up or down. Fortunately, you can fix this by cleaning away any debris.

If this isn’t the issue, check the remote control. A sticky button, dirt, or a low battery can cause it to malfunction. Sometimes the door can open suddenly as a result. This can also happen if you hit a button by accident or something rubbed against it in your pocket. But if the remote or the opener itself seems okay, a wiring problem may be the cause; you’ll need a professional to address this.

Did Someone Open My Garage Door on Purpose?

It’s usually not that someone is playing tricks on you, but a phenomenon known as radio interference. A garage door opens and closes in response to a specific frequency. The garage door and the opener must be on the same channel whether you use a remote, indoor control, or passcode entry.

Therefore, someone may have opened your garage door if:

  • A nearby radio, appliance, or wireless device operating on the same frequency interfered with it.
  • Someone close by used a CB radio, police radio, or a garage door on a similar frequency.
  • Your neighbor programmed their garage door to the same frequency; when they click the remote, your door is triggered as well.

To determine if your neighbor’s remote opened your garage door, ask them to test their opener at your home. This test will show if there is any interference. One unit or the other can be reprogrammed to resolve the dilemma. 

Can a Garage Door Be Hacked?

Newer garage doors can change their codes automatically, so it’s less common for a hacker to find the exact one. However, this isn’t the case with many older units. If your system has a fixed radio frequency code, a code grabber can record the signal from the opener and duplicate it to open your garage door. An intruder has essentially hacked into it.

In this scenario, it’s hard to know if someone opened your garage door. The intruder targeting your home will often leave the code grabber hidden nearby when you’re not around (so it can pick up the signal when you unsuspectingly operate the garage door). They’ll then pick up the device in the middle of the night or when you’re at work. 

But just because your system uses a rolling code or you have a smart garage door opener, that doesn’t mean it’s immune to being hacked. An intruder may try to gain control of the opener via your Wi-Fi network. To reduce the risk of trouble:

  • Set up a firewall for your home network.
  • Enable your smartphone’s fingerprint or face recognition feature.
  • Don’t include revealing details in your Wi-Fi name.
  • Choose unique, complex, and strong passwords.
  • Use 2-factor authentication to make your account more secure.
  • Use a different Wi-Fi network for smart devices so sensitive data are less accessible. 

Call for Help If Someone Opened Your Garage Door

If your garage door opens for no reason or has any other problem, schedule a free repair estimate with Mesa Garage Doors. Our skilled technicians will perform an inspection and can complete any type of repair fast. They’ll also determine if the mysterious issue is due to a garage door opener problem, interference from nearby, or malicious activity. We’re just as effective at securing your garage door as ensuring it is in great condition. Book service online or call 714-613-0646 today.

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