How to lubricate a garage door

A garage door is the largest moving thing in most houses, and it runs on metal parts that rub against each other every time it goes up or down. When those parts go dry, the door squeaks, drags, and makes the opener work harder. A little of the right lubricant a few times a year is the cheapest maintenance there is. The wrong product, or lube in the wrong place, can make things worse.

What to lubricate

1. Hinges. Put a drop or short spray at each pivot point where the hinge bends, on every hinge down the door.
2. Rollers. Spray the roller stem where it meets the hinge. If the rollers are steel, put a little on the bearings too. Nylon rollers need only the stem.
3. Bearing plates. These are the plates at each end of the spring shaft, above the door, where the shaft turns.
4. The springs, lightly. A thin spray along the coils lets them flex without squeaking. Spray from a safe distance only. Don't touch, adjust, or tighten anything on a spring.
5. Lock and arm pivots. If your door has a lock bar or the opener arm has pivot points, a drop keeps them moving.
6. The opener's chain or screw. Chain and screw drives take their own lubricant, usually a light grease. Belt drives don't need any.

What to use

We use plain WD-40 on the hinges, rollers, bearing plates and springs. It's the same can most people already have in the garage.

What to leave dry

• The tracks. The rollers ride inside the track like a train on a rail. Oil there picks up dust and road grit and turns to a paste. Wipe the tracks clean with a rag and leave them dry.
• The rubber seals. Petroleum-based products can soften and swell rubber. If you want to treat the bottom seal, use silicone. We cover that in our weatherstripping guide.

How to do it, in order

1. Close the door and stay clear of the springs. Work from the floor or a stable step stool, never on the door.
2. Wipe first. Clean old grime off the hinges, rollers, and tracks. New lube over dirt just traps it.
3. Apply sparingly. Give each spot a short burst. Dripping lube collects dust and runs onto the panels.
4. Cycle the door a few times. Run it up and down to work the lubricant in, then wipe any drips.
5. Listen and watch. A door that now runs smoothly was dry. One that still groans, shakes, or tilts has a different problem.

When lube isn't the answer

Lubricant only fixes dry parts. A grinding noise, worn or cracked rollers, a door that shakes, or one that looks lopsided points to something else. See what each noise means and how to test whether your door is balanced. Springs, cables, and the brackets they attach to are under heavy tension, so adjusting or replacing them is a job for a technician.

Lubrication is one item on the full fall list in our winterize checklist, and it's part of a seasonal tune-up. We're reachable seven days a week with no after-hours fee, and you get a free estimate before any work starts.