Are you hearing squeaking or grinding noises when you open or close your garage door? This could be a good indication that your garage door rollers could use some attention and care. They may need to be lubricated or they could even need replacing if they are too worn or damaged.
Like your knees, the garage door rollers are responsible for holding a lot of weight. These little rollers support the entire weight of the door while it is in operation, which can take its toll. Unfortunately, garage doors don’t get a warmup like people do.
Did you know? A garage door cycle means 1 opening + 1 closing.
Do you know how much work your garage door does? Watch this video . We took a good look at just how hard your door works.
This is also why it’s critical to maintain your doors and their working parts to keep them functioning over the years. When your door is in good working order, the garage is a functional space. More importantly, your family will be safe. Be sure to keep an eye and an ear on your garage door because there are issues that can arise.
In this article, our professional technicians explain the process of garage door roller maintenance and replacement, as well as other aspects of maintenance and garage door repair.
But First, Do You Know What Kind of Rollers You Have?
3 Types are popular:
● In Black Rubber: These don't have ball bearings and are recommended for smaller garage doors only.
● In Steel: These include ball bearings and should have 10 each.
● In Nylon: Quieter rollers with 12 ball bearings, available for single and double doors
2-inch rollers are the standard for 99% of garage doors.
Before You Do Any Work, CUT the Power!
Don’t do any work on your garage door until you:
● Disconnect power
● Unplug the opener from the outlet
If your garage door still has power, it can be dangerous to work underneath it.
Invest a few minutes to keep yourself safe and stay alive. It’s not about being afraid. It’s about being smart.
How are Garage Door Rollers Lubricated?
It doesn’t matter what type of rollers you have, because you should NEVER USE OIL LUBRICANT products for garage door rollers!
Oil lubricants are actually degreasers, which is the opposite of what your garage door rollers need when they are rubbing or squeaking. That would be like adding sand to a potted plant that is in desperate need of water. It just won’t work and doesn’t make sense.
Stick with a silicone-based lubricant to keep your rollers in good shape, unless they happen to be made from steel.
● Steel Rollers: Find the innermost part of the roller and lubricate the bearings directly.
● Nylon Rollers with Exposed Bearings: Lubricate the outside of the roller and where rollers meet the shaft.
● Nylon Rollers with Sealed Ball Bearings: No lubrication needed! You chose rollers that will last a door’s lifetime without maintenance!
Don’t forget
● To use the straw or applicator that was included
● To only use a thin layer
● To use a clean cloth to remove all excess immediately
● That rollers should be ROLLING, not sliding, in the track
● Maintenance is recommended about every 6 months by most manufacturers
Since the supplies are already out, you could also lubricate:
● Hinge: Where they open and close
● Locks
● Arm Bars
● Bearing Plates
● Springs : They need to be lubricated too. BUT, IF YOU’RE THE HOMEOWNER, JUST DON’T DO IT! These springs are under extreme tension and can present a serious risk to your safety. It’s best not to even take the risk. Leave your garage door maintenance to the pros at all times.
Should You Go with Nylon or Steel?
If you do need roller replacements, you’re probably wondering whether you should choose nylon or steel 🤔?
You might spend a bit more on nylon rollers than steel
rollers.
But that’s because they are:
● Less noisy
● Much more durable
● Able to last as long as 10 years or more
Tim, from GarageTransformed says that steel rollers are:
● Excessively noisy
● Prone to corrosion and rust
● Much more maintenance-demanding
● Only going to last 3-5 years
5 Steps Technicians Will Use to Replace Garage Rollers
Safety Disclaimer : This should NEVER be done by anyone but a licensed technician. Garage door roller replacement is very dangerous work.
NEVER remove the cable from the bottom door fixture or loosen the bolts that secure the door to that fixture.
If these warnings are not followed, the spring could SNAP,leading to property damage, injury, and death. You have been warned!
There are dangers that come with this work because of things like:
● The weight of your door
● The spring tension in your garage door springs
If the rollers on your door are in need of a little TLC, you probably also need some other maintenance or repair. Contact your local garage door & opener technician right away and they will come perform a full inspection and make sure everything is in working order.
Step 1 – The installer disconnects the power
It’s important to unplug the opener to prevent it from being activated while you are working.
Step 2 – A winding bar is used to unwind the springs
It’s safest to replace hinges and rollers when the door is in the "down" position, but that can’t be done until the springs are unwound
The installer often uses a Vis-grip to hold the cable to the shaft.
Step 3 – The installer takes off the old rollers
● The screws holding the rollers will be loosened
● Using a hammer, the installer taps the bolt out of the hinge and remove it
● IMPORTANT – The hinges are what hold the door in place. The installer needs to replace one hinge and roller at a time to ensure that the door doesn’t come crashing down or otherwise get damaged.
● The installer removes old rollers
Step 4 – The installer replaces with new garage door roller
● The installer aligns the roller with the correct hole
● Then he tips the roller into the track where it belongs
● He ensures that the hinge is lined up with the bolt holes
● He often uses Loctites or larger screws
● The installer taps the bolts into the hinges form the outside
● The installer tightens the nuts on the bolts
He repeats the process for each garage door roller. When they have all been replaced, the last step is to put the springs back.
Step 5 - The technician will rewind the springs to the right tension
● He will make necessary adjustments to tension when doing this
● He will also remove the Vis-grip that was secured to the shaft
So You Want to Hire Professionals for Your Garage Door Rollers and Maintenance Needs?
Good choice.
Perhaps you weren’t aware of how dangerous garage door springs can be. Maybe you just didn’t know how to maintain your door. Now, though, you do, and you know the value of hiring the professionals to get the job done right.
Contact us at 902-624-8993.
Garage doors and openers are what we do. We’re passionate, experienced, and have what it takes. Call our experienced techs today.
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