You should lubricate your garage door once or twice a year for optimal maintenance. However, you should also note that noisy garage doors can indicate problems requiring professional repairs.
It's very important to lubricate all of the moving parts in your garage door every six months. This extends the lifespan of your door and also keeps it quiet. If you live in a harsh environment (e.g. near the coast), you should lubricate your door more frequently.
Clean the outside of the garage door at least once a year, or more frequently if you live in a salt-air climate. Wash the door with a soft sponge or cloth and a cleaner appropriate for the surface, then thoroughly rinse the door with a hose. For wood doors, wipe them with a dry, soft cloth.
You shouldn't lubricate garage door springs too often. By lubricating the spring your can make it work smoother, but too much lube can cause them to fail, rust or just shorten their life. A new garage door spring should last for about 6 years without needing to lubricate it.
This will depend on the type of garage door rollers you currently have. With proper maintenance, rollers can last between 10 and 20 years. Other factors will affect the longevity of your rollers as well, such as weather and frequency of use.
Signs That Your Garage Door Rollers Need To Be Replaced
In particular, look for visible damage or signs of wear. This includes cracking and chipping as well as bent and loose components (for example a loose connection between the rod and wheel). Rollers with ball bearings should also be inspected for broken seals.
When properly installed, your springs can last approximately 10,000 cycles. One cycle includes both the opening and closing of the door. Technically speaking, your springs should last between 7 to 10 years. However, this depends on how often you use your garage door.
WD-40 is also bad news for the rubber, plastic or nylon rollers, seals and gaskets found throughout your garage door system. It can deteriorate these materials, causing them to crack and lose their shape. And while WD-40 may silence a squeaky hinge in the short term, it provides only temporary relief.
An average technician's fee for garage door maintenance is about $85. Their services will include: Checking, lubricating, and tightening screws and hinges as needed. This costs about $5.
Remember, we recommend using only lithium grease as a garage door lubricant instead of WD-40 or oil.
The rate to hire a garage pro ranges from $75 to $150 an hour. This results in a total labor cost between $150 and $450. For an easy fix, the repairperson may charge a service call fee of $50 to $75.
Hinges, bolts, and other hardware wear down over time, making it harder for your garage door to operate properly. Usually, you just need to check the hardware and tighten anything that has become loose. Then spray silicone-based lubricant to ensure everything is moving smoothly.
Routine Maintenance Can Save You Money on Repair Costs
The longer an issue with your garage door goes without repair, the more expensive it can end up being to fix it. Many garage door problems will slowly degrade and get worse over time. A simple fix now could become an expensive replacement if left unattended.
It displaces moisture and provides excellent lubrication, protecting and extending the life of your tools and equipment. As it's silicone-based, it's perfect for using on rubber parts like pipes, window seals, plumbing fittings and belts.
The tracks, rollers, hinges and springs of your garage doors face significant stress and will need the most frequent lubrication. In general, all moving parts (i.e. garage door springs, rollers, hinges etc.) will need lubrication often – every three months or possibly more with heavy use or in some climates.
For this reason, we recommend using it in combination with lithium grease if possible. You can apply silicone spray lubricant to the parts of your garage door that are otherwise impossible to reach and lithium grease to all other components that need to be lubricated.
Garage door pulleys and rollers may have bearings that require an annual lubrication. Lubricate a garage door to keep it working smoothly. Most doors squeak when they need to be greased. Once-a-year lubrication of all the moving parts is usually enough to keep the door in good shape.
Though many factors contribute to a garage door's lifespan, a typical garage door will last around 15 and 30 years. Your garage door's lifetime will vary depending on the type and brand you choose. Factors like the weather, environment, usage and maintenance schedule also impact the longevity of your garage door.
Visible Wear and Tear on Springs
Routine inspections of your garage door torsion springs can identify signs of wear and tear. If you notice any visible damage like cracks, gaps, or rust on the springs, this is a good indication that they should be replaced right away.
We have a full range of garage door parts, such as brackets, locks, springs and cables, available at Lowe's.