In order for your garage door(s) to continue to run as smoothly and as quietly as possible, it is important to maintenance them. A garage door should be lubricated at least once a year, however most people will go the entire life of the opener system without ever sustaining their garage door(s). The following list is just a few examples that we run into when customers try to lubricate their own doors.
WD-40 – This is probably the most common household item of this list. Many people have this product and it commonly is thought of as being a lubricant for just about anything. WD-40 actually does have a huge amount of uses, however “garage door lubricant” is simply not one of them. WD-40 is actually not a lubricant at all. We have this misconception because it’s actually a cleaner. So when we use the product on a “creaky door,” if it’s rusty, WD-40 removes the rust and residue, making it quiet as a result; it is not because it lubricated the door.
Grease – Another more obvious choice would most likely be grease. If you tend to work on your car, mechanic’s grease is generally a common item to have. A big problem with grease is that it is an attractor of dirt and dust, which means it isn’t suggested for open parts. In a car, it is used in places where grim will not hurt the overall operation of the vehicle. If used as a lubricant for your garage door(s) it could attracted unwanted grim to your moving garage door parts. This buildup will most likely mess up the smooth operation of your garage door.
Oil – Oil is a good thing for lubricating car engines and some other household motors. It is better at working its way into bearings and door parts than grease and does act as a lubricant. However it is messy. Oil is a runny substance, it literally pours out of its container like syrup, so you can expect it to run out of garage door parts just as easily. This might mean that it will drip onto you, your stuff, and maybe your call. This might not be the best idea if you want to keep your belongings clean.
White lithium grease – White lithium grease in a convenient, easy to use aerosol can. In addition, this P.T.F.E. fortified, durable, non-staining lubricant provides superior friction reduction between similar or different materials than other lubricants. Will not run, wash off, or freeze and does not gum up or cake on applied surfaces. This is a professional grade product for use on all moving parts found on residential, commercial and industrial garage doors, gates and electrical operators, including, rollers, hinges, bearings, springs, cables, roller chain, locks, latches, etc.
Silicone-based – If you stop by any type of home improvement store. These type of spray lubricant are easily found and are by far the appropriate way to lubricate a garage door. They work themselves around bearings and other moving garage door parts and stay there.
If however, you feel uncomfortable getting on a ladder and lubricating your hardware and garage door, call your local California garage door service company. If you’re in the Northern & Central California region, please call (800) 829-9833. You will get same-day service no matter where you are (ie. Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Chico, Davis, Woodland, Fairfield, Yuba, Vallejo, San Francisco, Marin, San Jose, Campbell, Merced, Fresno, and More).
