How to Maintain Your Garage Door Rollers, Hinges & Tracks for Longevity

A garage door protects your car, adds curb appeal to your home, and makes your everyday life easier. And it works like any other reliable part of your house, opening and closing hundreds of times a week. 

We barely pay attention to its role in our day-to-day lives until it stops working and we start wondering, “Seriously? Right now?” Well, there’s no “right” time for your garage door to stop working. 

That’s why it’s always better to take necessary steps to prevent problems with your garage door. And the solution is simple – you’ll need to maintain your garage door parts like rollers, hinges & tracks regularly. 

This way, you can keep it functioning properly for years, without worrying about frequent repairs! But how to maintain them? Well, you can keep reading this blog to get some useful tips!

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Why is Garage Door Maintenance Important?

The rollers, hinges, and tracks are the hardworking trio of your garage door that make every lift easy and quiet. But as the door opens several times a year, it experiences a lot of motion, vibration, and wear. And so, if you ignore maintaining these garage door parts, rust, dirt, debris, and grime start building up. 

Then you’ll notice the squeaking sounds, sudden jerking movements, and eventually a jammed door. That’s why it’s important to opt for regular maintenance of these garage door parts to –

• Avoid costly repairs
• Ensure your home’s curb appeal isn’t damaged
• Prevent major breakdowns
• Keep your home safe and secure
• Extend the lifespan of your garage door.

When you keep your garage door well-maintained, your property will feel safer and look better!

How You Can Maintain Your Garage Door Rollers, Hinges & Tracks

Here are some ways you can maintain your garage door parts!

1. Start With a Visual Inspection 

Before you start taking out your tools, you need to give your garage door a good look. You can open and close it slowly to see if the rollers are moving along the tracks, how the hinges are working, and notice if you hear any rattling sounds. You can also look for –

• Loose screws or nuts around the hinges
• Cracked or old rollers (especially the plastic ones)
• Bent or uneven tracks that don’t line up properly.

If you face major problems like a roller popping out or a hinge pulling from the panel, you need to call for garage door repair service to fix the issue right away.

2. Clean Everything Up

If you live in a dusty area or a place with a lot of wind, dirt can easily build up in the tracks and rollers of your garage door. So, you can clean them by –

• Wiping the tracks using a dry cloth or a soft brush 
• Using mild soap and water to remove sticky buildup
• Drying the parts so that there’s no chance of rust.

Cleaning these parts every few months can keep your garage door working like new.

3. Lubricate the Moving Parts

After cleaning your garage door rollers, tracks, and hinges, you can apply silicon-based or lithium-based garage door lubricant. You can spray these to –

• Roller bearings
• Hinge pivot points
• Track edges (lightly)

Then you need to open and close the door a few times to distribute it evenly. You’ll instantly notice how much smoother and quieter your garage door has become. Also, try not to use too much lubricant, as it can attract more dirt to the garage door parts.

4. Tighten Loose Parts

As your garage door vibrates every time it moves, its bolts and screws (especially around the hinges) can easily loosen over time. To fix this, you can use a wrench and a socket to tighten the parts. You need to look for –

• Hinge screws along the door panels
• Roller brackets
• Track mounts on the wall

If you hear a metallic sound when your door moves, it might mean something’s probably loose and you’ll need to fix it right away!

5. Check the Alignment

Your garage door tracks always need to stay straight and parallel. So, if they’re off, the rollers can pop out or wear unevenly. You can look for these signs –

• The door looks crooked when halfway open
• It rubs or scrapes against one side
• You see gaps between rollers and tracks

If you find any misalignment, you need to contact garage door contractors who can realign the tracks safely!

6. Replace Worn-Out Rollers or Hinges

Even after good care, garage door parts can get damaged over time due to continuous use. So, you might find that your –

• Rollers are chipped, cracked, or wobbly
• Hinges have rust and cracks.

If you see these signs, you need to contact a reputable garage door company that can send contractors to replace the hinges and rollers efficiently.

7. Test for Balance and Smooth Motion

When you have a well-maintained garage door, it will glide evenly and balance properly. So, you can test your door by –

• Disconnecting the opener by pulling the red release cord
• Manually lifting the door halfway.

If it stays in place, your garage door is balanced. But if it slides down or shoots up, the springs might be unbalanced, and you need to call for professional help to fix the issue.

8. Schedule Annual Professional Maintenance

To ensure your garage door works properly for years, you need to rely on a trusted garage door company in Sacramento for professional service. They’ll –

• Test your garage door’s balance 
• Replace parts like hinges and rollers if they’re not working
• Ensure every part is working as it should.

Plus, they can spot problems early on and fix them so that you can avoid costly garage door repairs down the line!

For Reliable Garage Door Services, Call Eudy Door Co. Now!

How Often Should You Service Your Garage Door?

You can follow this table as your guide!

Service Type	Time for Service
Proper inspection	Every Month
Cleaning & lubrication	Every 3 to 6 Months
Professional service	Once or Twice a Year
Roller/hinge replacement	Every 4 to 5 Years

Your Common Questions on Garage Door Maintenance

➢  Can I lubricate my garage door with WD-40?

No! WD-40 is a cleaner, not a lubricant. So, it can temporarily stop squeaks, but it won’t protect parts from friction or rust.

➢  Should I disconnect my garage door opener during maintenance?

Yes. You need to always unplug or disconnect the opener before inspecting or cleaning the door. This ensures safety and prevents accidental activation while you’re working.

➢  Are nylon rollers really better than steel ones?

Yes. Nylon rollers are quieter, smoother, and resistant to rust, so they’re best for homes with frequent garage door use. Steel rollers are strong but noisier.

Read more about:

• Same-Day Garage Door Repair: What Services Can Be Done & What Can’t
• Step-by-Step Garage Door Lubrication Tips to Avoid Costly Repairs
• What to Do When Your Garage Door Won’t Open or Close Properly

Takeaway

If you want your garage door rollers, hinges, and tracks to work properly for years, you need to maintain them regularly. You can do visual inspections, clean and lubricate the door parts, and tighten loose parts to prevent costly repairs. 

Besides, you can also opt for annual professional service from a reliable garage door company to ensure your door remains quiet, balanced, and protects your home at all times.

Trust Eudy Door Co. For Fast & Reliable Garage Door Services

If you’re looking for the “best garage door repair near me,” online, your search will end with Eudy Door Co.!  With 40+ years of experience in the industry, we’re your reliable specialist for all kinds of garage door repairs. 

Our technicians are knowledgeable, licensed, and have years of experience in taking care of your garage door quickly and efficiently. Our customers love us for our high-quality and fast services. 

When you choose our garage door company in Sacramento, we’ll make sure you have no complaints about our services. So, you can call us now at (916) 387-8664 to get started!