The last thing you need is to be stuck in your garage because of a faulty door. This is why it is important that you regularly maintain your garage door, especially lubricating the moving parts. However, not all lubricants are made equal. Some can even damage the garage door or its parts.
Lubrication is an important part of regular garage door maintenance and a key to keeping your garage door running smoothly. Not only does it help reduce friction, thereby requiring less force to move the door up and down, but it also prevents corrosion.
When it comes time to lubricate your garage door, you’ll want the right type of garage door lubricant, in the form that works best for your particular application. Here are some tips on how to choose the best garage door lubricant:
Determine what type of garage door you have. Most doors these days either roll up on tracks or swing open on hinges. On rolling doors, there are wheels or rollers that run in tracks on each side of the opening.
If your tracks are made of steel, you’ll want to use lithium-based grease or oil. If they’re made of nylon, you should use a silicone spray. For swinging doors, hinges are usually made of steel or nylon, so again follow the same rules as above.
Identify moving parts that need lubrication. On rolling doors with steel tracks, you typically lubricate the wheels and tracks. On swinging doors with steel hinges, you typically lubricate just the hinges themselves — as well as any springs and/or cables.
What is a Silicone-Based Lubricant?
Silicone-based lubricants are designed for use on metal surfaces and provide water resistance. They’re often used on locks as well as garage doors, since they’ll protect against moisture damage. Silicone-based lubricants won’t stain fabrics or carpets, so if you have a rubber seal at the bottom of your garage door, it won’t get ruined by the product. Try a silicone spray that has been formulated specifically for garage doors.