5 Garage Door Lubrication Tips to Keep Things Running Smoothly

Garage door lubrication helps the system run smoothly and reduces wear and tear. In this article, we’ll provide maintenance tips for lubricating your garage door. This should be done at least once or twice a year (a professional can take care of it during routine annual or semi-annual maintenance). The system can even be lubricated more frequently if you think it’s necessary, such as when the door becomes noisy or starts to slow up.

Proper maintenance can add years to your garage door’s life and save on repair costs. The following garage door lubrication tips should help you realize its benefits:

1. Check Your Garage Door System First

Before adding lubricant to your garage door system, check for any issues. This provides the opportunity to find loose nuts or bolts to tighten. Worn parts such as rollers and hinges can cause your garage door to perform erratically. If you hear slapping sounds, the garage door opener chain may be loose. Call a technician if any problem requires repairing or replacing any components.

2. Choose the Right Type of Lubricant

Not all lubricants are ideal for garage doors. People often ask about using WD-40, but it’s more of a cleaning agent than a lubricant. It can help remove rust, oils, and buildup from garage door tracks but also ruins the grease that’s already there. It also makes the system more susceptible to dirt buildup. And, since WD-40 breaks down chemical bonds in metal to remove rust, it can damage garage door parts.

That being said, the best compounds for garage door lubrication include:

  • White Lithium Grease: Made of soap and oil, white lithium grease works well with metal and is non-corrosive. It’s also easy to spread evenly by hand. This can be messy, but there’s another option if this isn’t for you.
  • Silicone Sprays: A silicone spray product typically comes in a can with a thin straw attachment. The attachment helps get the lubricant into small spaces. In addition to being long-lasting, the compound tolerates a wide temperature range.

3. Clean the Garage Door Tracks

Make sure the tracks are clean so the rollers move smoothly. You can use a vacuum cleaner with an attachment to remove dust or large debris. If any dirt remains, wipe it away with a damp rag. Stubborn debris can be loosened and removed with an automotive brake cleaner. If you think it’s necessary, apply a small amount of lithium-based grease or silicone lubricant with a putty knife (but use it only sparingly).

4. Know What Parts to Lubricate

Certain garage door components benefit most from lubrication, especially those that move or contact other parts. Lubricating the following will help your garage door run more smoothly.

  • Hinges and Rollers: To access the hinges, open the garage door manually (by disconnecting it from the opener via the release cord). As you lift the door, spray or wipe the hinges between each section. Ideally, you should have someone help lift the door while you apply the grease. Use the straw attachment to lubricate the ball bearings in the rollers.
  • Springs: Most garage doors have springs installed along the top. Use a step ladder to reach them and apply lithium grease (WD-40 makes such a product designed for use with garage doors). You can spray the springs directly or wipe them down using a rag to spread the grease evenly. If a spring is bent or has a gap, call a professional to replace it.
  • Bearing Plates: The circular bearing plates are at the ends of the pole to which the torsion springs are attached. Therefore, they are easy to reach while lubricating the springs. The bearing plates can be sprayed or wiped down. 
  • Top Rail: Find the top rail, which runs parallel to the ceiling inside the garage, and use a stepladder to reach it. The garage door opener chain moves along this rail. The best way to lubricate the top rail is to spray grease directly on it.
  • Arm Bar: Next, locate the armbar, which connects the top rail and garage door. To improve system operation, it can be sprayed or wiped with grease.
  • Door Lock: Apply lubricant directly to the garage door lock. This prevents it from rusting. You’ll also find it easier to lock and unlock the door as you leave and return home.
  • Chain/Belt Drive: Garage door openers with chain or belt drives must be lubricated regularly. Otherwise, they can rust and malfunction. Apply white lithium grease directly to the chain or belt and then turn on the opener. As it runs, the grease will be evenly distributed.

5. Identify Any Other Sources of Noise

Garage door lubrication doesn’t always stop noise or other issues. If it still squeaks or makes other loud noises, the door may need to be repaired or replaced. A rubbing sound can mean you have a bent garage door track. Rattling sounds are typically caused by loose parts, while a squeaking sound can mean the hinges or rollers have worn out. The door may also shake as it opens or closes. Dirty bearings will cause rollers to wear out faster; they can be cleaned and oiled, but worn-out bearings must be replaced.

Noise can sometimes be addressed by tightening or adjusting garage door parts. It can also originate from the garage door opener. Belt drive openers are quieter than chain drive models, so, it might be worth considering a replacement. If your garage door opener is relatively new and noisy, call a professional to look at it. Do not attempt a DIY repair, as it can result in injuries, more damage, or voiding your warranty.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors

Mesa Garage Doors is the premier residential garage door company in Southern California. We install a wide range of garage door styles and provide repair services. Our experienced team can resolve any issue. If you have questions about garage door lubrication or need to schedule repairs or maintenance, request your estimate or book service online. Call (800) 893-1107 to speak with us directly.

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How to Open a Garage Door Manually From the Outside

You’re returning home on a rainy night, getting the kids back from school, or arriving at the end of a long work day, and pressing the garage door opener remote yields no response. Do you know how to open a garage door manually from the outside? If so, this situation won’t seem so dire. We’ve covered how to unlock a garage door from outside without a key and even open a garage door without power. To ease the frustration, we’ll look deeper into opening a garage door from outside.

Even the most modern and sophisticated electronic garage door systems can be opened manually. If you’re outside and the garage door isn’t opening, you can try the following to get your car, yourself, and your family safely inside.

Use the Emergency Release Lock

Many garage doors are installed with an emergency release kit or outside disconnect kit. It’s typically located at the top center of the opening. While not a standard feature on all doors, a professional can install one if yours doesn’t have one. 

The emergency release lock is accessed via a small keyhole near the top of the door. To use it, insert a matching key and turn it. The lock tumbler can now be pulled out to allow access to the emergency release cable. Pull on the cord to disengage the automatic garage door opener, so you can lift the door panel from the outside by hand.

Unlock the Door from the Bottom

Depending on your garage door, it may have another lock near the bottom handle. It is designed to keep the door closed. If this lock is installed, you’ll need to release it with a key before you can open the garage door manually (even if you’ve opened the emergency release lock).

Carefully Open the Garage Door

With the emergency release and bottom locks opened, the garage door should be easy to lift. Grab the bottom handle and pull it straight up. Continue until the door is as far as it will go. The springs will hold it in place. The door should open smoothly and with little effort. Stop if it feels heavy or moves roughly or unevenly along the tracks.

Once the door is fully open and you’ve confirmed it’s securely in place, you can drive your car into the garage and allow people to pass underneath.

However, if the garage door doesn’t stay in place, it may have a broken spring, cable, or pulley. If you urgently need to get in the garage, have at least two people carefully lift the door and secure clamps under it at the tracks. Then use the handle to guide it down. By now, you should be waiting for an emergency garage door repair tech to arrive.

Re-Lock the Garage Door

Now that you’ve opened the garage door manually from the outside, and have access to your garage, close it to prevent the door from slamming shut. If a power outage is preventing your garage door from working, you may have to continue using it manually. You should still lock it to maintain security. To do so, place a clamp on the track above a roller, which will keep the garage door closed.

Once the power is restored, you can re-engage the automatic garage door opener. The door must be in the closed position for you to proceed. Once it’s fully extended, pull the emergency cord toward the door to compress the spring and bring the trolley into position. Next, reconnect the trolley and the door; to do this:

  • Move the door along the track manually until the mechanism is in position, or
  • Activate the opener remote, which enables the trolley to reconnect automatically.

You should hear a distinct clicking noise when the trolley and garage door opener connect.

Safety Considerations When Opening a Garage Door Manually From the Outside

The garage door is the largest moving part of most homes. But opening it manually is relatively safe thanks to various built-in features. Nonetheless, you should always follow safety precautions when operating a garage door by hand. The following tips can prevent injury or damage:

  • Pull the Release Cord Only When the Door Is Closed: This probably isn’t an issue if you’re outside and haven’t accessed your garage yet. But when the garage door is closed, it’s under the least amount of pressure. A closed garage door can’t move, fall, pinch, or crush anyone or anything.
  • Unplug the System If Working on Any Components: If you need to work with the motorhead or carriage assembly to check the garage door opener mechanism, turn off the power first. An electric shock can occur if the power suddenly returns.
  • Contact a Professional If the Door Doesn’t Open: A garage door is designed to be disengaged from the opener for easy lifting. If it’s too heavy to lift manually or you need assistance, call a garage door service company to make adjustments or repairs. This avoids strains and injuries.

What Can Cause My Garage Door to Stop Opening?

It’s unexpected and frustrating when you press the remote button and the garage door doesn’t move. One reason for this may be the remote’s batteries are drained. Other possibilities include:

  • A power outage
  • A circuit breaker tripped
  • The power cord is unplugged
  • The garage door is off the track
  • The trolley disconnected
  • A garage door spring broke
  • The motor stopped working

A power outage is out of your control while a circuit breaker can be reset. If the power cord is not plugged in, you’ll have to reinsert it. However, if there’s a mechanical or electrical issue involving your garage door system, you’ll need to call a professional to troubleshoot and address the problem.

What If I Can’t Reset the Garage Door Opener?

The garage door opener must be reset after it’s been disengaged or there’s been a power outage. If you can’t get the carriage to align or the opener to work normally, unplug the system and plug it back in after 30 seconds. The system should reset itself. If not, it may have been damaged by a power surge or other issue, so call a garage door repair professional.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors

We’re happy to share our knowledge of how to open a garage door manually from outside. It can help in many situations. However, depending on the problem, you may need a professional to inspect the system and make necessary repairs. Our experienced technicians can handle any garage door repair and fix all makes and models of garage doors. For residents in Los Angeles and Orange County areas schedule a new door or repair estimate online or call us at (844) 473-2866 today.

 

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