How to lubricate a garage door
Lubricating your garage door is pretty easy, and it can save you on expensive repairs down the line.
Written by Lynell Spencer
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Lubricate your garage door to prevent or correct that annoying squeak before the problem gets bigger and more expensive to fix. Lubricating your garage door is pretty easy, and it can save you on expensive repairs down the line.
Your garage is probably not the space in your home that you think the most about—that is until it is 5 a.m. and you awaken to the sound of the awful squeak and rumble when your housemate leaves for work. Once your garage begins crying for attention, it is best not to ignore it.
One of the most important things you do to protect your home from costly damage is to perform regular maintenance. This can feel daunting for new homeowners, especially if you are not an experienced “do-it-yourself-er”. While you will want a professional for many home repairs, smaller things—like fixing your noisy garage door—can be done easily with just a few tools.
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When to lubricate a garage door
Making sure that the moving parts on your garage door (whether it is automatic or manual) are working well is an important part of the regular maintenance of your home.
As soon as you notice a change in the operation of your door—most commonly squeaking or grinding noises, or signs of friction—it is time to take a look at all the moving parts.
What to check first
Inspect the inside of your garage and move any clutter that may be getting in the way of your door, rails, or ceiling clearance when your door is opening and closing.
Next, check to make sure there are no loose parts or bent rails. Loose parts will generally just require the turn of a couple of screws, but bent rails may need to be replaced. Depending on your level of comfort, this may be better left to a pro.
If all of the individual parts are sound, you may just need to clean and lubricate the mechanisms.
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Everything you need to know to lubricate your garage door
- Cut the power: If you have an automatic garage door, start by unplugging the motor. Make sure that the garage door is closed when you do this, as it can be dangerous when the door is open.
- Clean the rails: Next, you will want to clean the rails and make sure they are free of dirt, bug carcasses, and other debris. To do this, you will want to use a cleaner that dirt will not stick to later. Brake cleaner works great in this capacity, as it will not leave behind residue that will gum up the works later.
- Clean and check moving parts (hinges, springs, rails, chain, rollers): As you clean each part, remove debris and buildup, and look for rust or damage as you go.
- Lubricate parts: After each piece is cleaned, apply lubricant to the area. Make sure you use a lubricant that will provide smooth, frictionless movement and won’t get gummy or attract dirt.
Key Takeaway Garage door maintenance should be part of your regular home care routine. The basics can be taken care of with a few basic tools and just a little know-how.
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Top 3 lubricants for home maintenance
Applying the right lubricant will extend the life of your garage door by protecting its parts from moisture, oxidation, and friction.
Lubricants are generally either silicone or lithium-based. Which one you choose will depend on the materials used to build your garage door and the weather where you live.
You will also need to choose between a spray lubricant and grease. Spray can be useful on tight coils and hinges as it penetrates easily, whereas grease provides a longer-lasting layer of protection that does the best job with rails and rollers.
For the best results, you may want to purchase both grease and spray for the various parts of your garage door. Here are three top recommendations of lubricants that will work wonders on your squeaky door, according to
Bob Villa
:MORE: How to remove oil and grease from car doors
What if it doesn’t work?
If you have cleaned and lubricated all of the pieces and replaced anything that was bent, broken, or worn out, you may have a bigger problem on your hands. You may need to replace your garage door or the chains and springs that it needs to operate correctly. This is generally a job for a professional.
Another possibility is that your garage is just plain noisy, even when it is operating at peak performance. Often, this can happen with chain-operated mechanisms. If this is the case, consider hiring someone to install a belt-operated mechanism if the noise is a problem.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover garage doors?
Homeowners insurance policies vary, so make sure you understand yours. The first thing to note: if you have an attached garage, damage to it is covered by your homeowners policy, but if you have an unattached garage, this is considered to be an “other structure”, and may not be covered automatically.
The next thing to note is that if your garage door is damaged due to normal wear and tear or poor maintenance, repairs will not be covered by insurance. Home insurance protects against perils like wind, vandalism, and fire, but does not pay for routine maintenance.
If you are not sure if you have the right coverage for your property, or if you want to get the same coverage for a better rate, the insurance experts at
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Where do I lubricate my garage door?
You will want to lubricate all of the moving parts on your garage door, including hinges, rollers, rails, and chains.
What causes a garage door to squeak?
Most commonly, age, oxidation, moisture are to blame for a noisy garage door. Lubrication will take care of most problems that cause squeaking or excess friction when operating. However, bent and broken parts can also be to blame and should be inspected by a professional if lubrication isn’t working.
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