Owning a garage door doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want with it. Like many other things, garage doors require maintenance and looking after.
Thus, one of the biggest questions asked by garage door owners is whether or not you should oil it.
When it comes to oil, do know what you’re meant to buy from a quality company that manufactures a quality product. Lubrication is very important so the unit can properly function. But when it comes to it, there are multiple parts that need it.
Let’s see what parts need lubrication, and how to do it.
Tracks
For first-timers, do know that you don’t need to lubricate this part. Instead, you need to make sure that they’re clean with no debris getting in the way. This will ensure smooth rolling.
Springs
The first part that needs oiling up is the springs. This part ensures that you can manually (and automatically) open and close the garage door (lift). However, make sure not to go overboard and apply only enough so that they can move easier.
You should never oil up to the point where it drips.
Hinges
When it comes to hinges, do know that there are two types of it; plastic and metal. Plastic hinges require no lubrication what so ever. Metal, on the other hand, needs lubrication only at the pivot points.
Rollers
The rollers are what move the entire construct. And the same as the hinges, the wheels can be made out of different materials. In the case of nylon wheels, you need to lubricate only the bearings without getting any of it on the nylon itself.
When it comes to metal wheels, then you’re in luck as oil doesn’t get in the way what so ever. However, that doesn’t mean you should go overboard.
The last material is plastic and the same as the hinges, you don’t need to lubricate if your rollers are made out of plastic.
Never add too much oil and always wipe away any excess oil to prevent dripping.
Locks
The last part on this list locks also needs some oiling up, although not too much. You should keep your locks oiled up as it ensures the key doesn’t stick while locking or unlocking.
Now, let’s take a look at how you should do it from start to finish.
Before You Start
There are a few safety precautions you can take before you start oiling up. For starters, you should cut the power and unplug the opener. Working on an open door is a recipe for disaster, so pay attention to these two.
Another thing you should do is disengage the opener. This makes it possible for you to manually open the garage door without any electrical help.
Doing this gives you an added handling bonus, as you make it easier to lower the rollers and add oil to them by simply sliding through the track.
However, if you’re not sure about what you’re doing then you should consider calling in a professional. Many companies, such as calgarygaragedoorrepair, specialize in providing garage door repair services. Oiling is a major part of making sure the entire thing doesn’t go bust, so these companies also provide maintenance services.
Oiling the Garage Door
Now that you’ve made the initial preparations, let’s look at how to oil.
Purchase the Oil
The first thing you need is to actually purchase the oil. This can be done online or at the nearest hardware store. Regardless of which option you take, you should always go for a quality product.
Oiling the Hinges
This is the first part we come across that needs to be oiled up. You need to apply it on each and every hinge. By doing this you are making sure that every hinge is nicely oiled up and ready to go.
Oiling the Rollers
The rollers are attached to the hinges. These, as we mentioned, can be made out of nylon, metal, or plastic. Depending on the type of material, you need to properly lubricate.
In the case of plastic, well you don’t need any sort of lube. In the case of nylon, you need to make sure that it doesn’t get on the material itself. And in the case of metal, well you can oil up the entire roller just not too much so it doesn’t drip.
This part is solely responsible for the movement of the entire construct. Naturally, it would work in your favor to have it oiled up.
Springs and Bearing Plates
The springs, as we mentioned, are responsible for the garage door to properly function. Thus, it’s very important that we keep them oiled up.
The easiest way to do this is to simply add some oil to the springs and bearing plates. But not too much as the easiest way to get it across is to simply open it a few times.
Oiling the Lock
Rusting is an issue that every homeowner fears when it comes to the locks. By oiling the locks, you are making sure that rust doesn’t ever pose a threat to the entire construct.
You might need a spray to lubricate the locks as adding in oil on its own can be very hard. Simply take a can of oil spray and spray towards the keyhole.
Like we said earlier, this prevents rusting and also makes sure that the key turns nice and smooth.
The Rail
The last one is rail, and oiling it should be high on your priority list. This part is responsible for making sure that the chain runs along with the ceiling.
Oiling is very easy as all you need is a piece of cloth and the product at hand. Simply add some oil to the cloth and spread it around the top of the rail.
Conclusion
Oiling is important to help prevent costly repairs. When adding oil, you should never add too much as you risk making a mess of the entire thing by having dripping oil all over your floor.
