A Short Guide to the Maintenance of Garage Door Parts

Posted: Aug 15, 2012
Author: Doors by Nalley of Lake Norman, Inc.

The maintenance of the garage door and garage door parts is essential for any garage door. Simple periodic cleaning (four to five times a year), and oil application (two to three times a year) can do wonders for the function and lifespan of the garage door parts, and the minimal effort required is vastly preferable to the amount of worry and money that neglect can cost you.

Before applying lubrication, make sure to clean all the dirt and other corrosive substances off of the garage door parts, especially moving parts and the roller-tracks. There are plenty of materials that can eat away at the metal and also cause it to rust. If you do find a little rust, cleaning with steel wool and either vinegar or kerosene can quickly take care of it. Remember, kerosene is toxic and highly flammable!

Once everything is clean, be sure to apply oil to all the moving parts of the garage door. This includes the springs, cables, hinges, and chains. Don't forget the opener. Oiling garage door parts serves both to lubricate and to deter rust. WD-40 will work just fine. After oiling, make sure to check for and tighten any loose hardware.

Also remember to check the garage door parts such as weather-stripping and insulation, located around the sides and bottom of the garage door. It is important to maintain these parts, as they keep out moisture and, by extension, rust.

Wooden garage doors are especially vulnerable to weather conditions and should be still more vigilantly maintained. Your garage door installer, or any other professional group, will have specific tips on how to take care of your prized wooden garage door.

If your garage door needs maintenance beyond wiping down and adding lubricant, you should not perform the maintenance yourself. There are a lot of dangers involved with taking apart & replacing garage door parts. These types of jobs should be left to professionals.