There’s nothing more annoying at the end of a long day than a loud clanking garage door. All that screeching and banging certainly isn’t making you any friends with the neighbors! It’s a sign of an aging garage door, but it’s also easily fixable. All it takes is a little garage door lubricant. By regularly oiling your garage door, you’ll not only have a smoothly functioning garage door — it will also last longer too! Sometimes a well oiled garage door can help you put off replacing the entire garage door until it’s more in line with your budget. This is a common garage door repair you should do on a regular basis.
Start with the Right Lubricant
First, you’ll need to get the right kind of garage door lubricant — one specifically designed for garage doors. Don’t use WD40 because this can cause the parts of your garage door to rust prematurely. Instead, use a silicone spray or white lithium grease.
Garage Door Parts that Need Oil
What parts of your garage door should you oil so your door’s in great repair? You’ll want to lube the chain, the hinges, bolts, and all metal moving components of your garage door. These include springs, rollers, tracks and hinges — critical parts of your garage door. Use a small paint brush to thoroughly get into the cracks.
Other Garage Door DIY Maintenance
While you’re at it, you should also visually inspect these and other components of your garage door for signs of wear. Rollers do wear out overtime and will need replaced. Check the springs for any signs of fraying, loose or brittle coils, and rust. Tighten down any loose hinges with a wrench. A few simple steps of garage door repair go a long way to ensuring it functions beautifully.
If the lock on your garage door sticks, you might want to spray that down with lubricant as well.
It’s a good idea to lubricate your garage door every few months, especially in humid or rainy weather. This will not only keep your door running smoothly and quietly, but will help protect your garage door from premature wear. And your neighbors will definitely appreciate it!