Are you tired of alerting the entire neighborhood when you open or close your garage door? Aside from serving as an inexpensive alarm system, a squeaky garage door can be incredibly frustrating.
Doing routine maintenance on your garage door can help you make as little noise as possible when coming or going through your garage.
Want to learn how to lubricate your squeaky garage door? Let’s get started!
Why Is My Garage Door So Noisy?
Like humans, the parts on your garage door tend to creak and make noise as they age. You’ll likely hear popping and grinding from parts that didn’t previously make noises. Yes, we’re still talking about garage doors, but the same might be said about some of us too.
But seriously, your garage door is likely noisy due to the parts coming loose, improper lubrication properly, or even an unbalanced door. Some issues you can fix on your own, but some may require you to call a professional.
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How Do You Lubricate a Garage Door to Stop Squeaking?
Use a set of rubber gloves to protect your hands. It’s going to be a rather dirty job, and it’s far easier to toss a pair of cheap gloves in the trash than to scrub your hands under hot water for the rest of the afternoon.
Grab a can of white lithium-based grease from your favorite brand. You’ll also want to have a few old shop rags to help during the process.
We’ve seen some homeowners use old socks that have seen better days. Using socks makes it easy to slip them on your hands and get into the nooks and crannies to clean everything.
Put on a pair of safety glasses and grab a socket wrench to fit the hardware on your garage door. Go around and tighten any loose bolts that have come loose over time. Be careful not to overtighten these. You want them to be snug but not too tight that it causes damage to the door or the hardware.
Apply a Generous Amount of Lubricant
You’ll then spray your white lithium-based grease into the hinge pins on the rollers. Move the wheel around while applying the lubricant. You want to be generous while applying this lubrication as it won’t cause any harm to the hardware.
Make sure you wipe up any excess to avoid any accidental dripping later. Continue working your way around to all of the hinges on the door and wipe up any mess. Don’t forget the arms that connect the door to the trolly that raises and lowers the door. If your door uses a visible spring, it’s good to spray and wipe it down.
It’s also good to wipe down the track to rid it of any gunk. You don’t need to spray any additional lubricant on the track. You simply want to use the shop rag to remove any dirt and debris gathered while you’ve been using your garage door.
Once you finish, you’ll need to raise and lower the garage door a handful of times, ensuring proper lubrication. If done correctly, you should notice that your garage door is opening and closing much quieter.
What Oil Is Good for Squeaky Garage Doors?
You want a white lithium-based grease and lubricant with a straw that makes it easy to pinpoint where you’re placing the oil.
You can typically find it readily available at your local big-box home improvement store. Both Lowes and Home Depot have it available. If you’d rather have it shipped to you, it’s also available on Amazon.
Can I Use WD-40 on Squeaky Garage Door?
No, don’t use regular WD-40 to lubricate your door. It’s a degreaser and not a lubricant. It attracts dust and dirt, which will destroy your garage door and all of the pieces you spray with it.
While it may do the job temporarily, it will cause build-up and worsen the situation over the long run.
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Should Garage Door Tracks Be Lubricated?
If your track uses a belt, don’t get any lubricant on the belt. If there are no moving parts, don’t lubricate them. You can lubricate the top and bottom of the track, where the trolly arm glides.
Be sure to move the belt out of the way when spraying lubricant to avoid spraying it with grease.
Once done, you can wipe the tracks down with your shop towel or sock. You don’t want any extra lubrication inside the track. Just remove the dirt and gunk that gathered there.
How Often Should You Lubricate Your Garage Door?
Now that you have a quieter door with clean hardware, make a mental note to do it again in three to six months. Depending on the climate and environment, you may have to adjust the frequency of lubricating your door. However, it’s a relatively painless job that won’t take more than 20 to 30 minutes in most cases.
When was the last time you lubricated your garage door? Tell us in the comments!
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