Garage door tune-ups aren’t too expensive, and most of the fixes are simple. That being said, simple doesn’t always mean safe, so it’s best to hire a pro for this project.
How to Lubricate Your Garage Door in Under an Hour
Keep your garage opening and closing smoothly for years
Get quotes from garage door pros near you
No obligation · 100% free
Get quotes from garage door pros near you
No obligation · 100% free
SKILL LEVEL
Simple
COMPLETION TIME
1 hour
COST
Up to $25
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
- Ladder
- Damp rag
- Wet / dry vacuum (optional)
SUPPLIES
- Lithium- or silicone-based garage door lubricant
- Brake cleaner (optional)
Lubricating your garage door is an important task that you should tackle every three to six months to keep it operating smoothly (and without a loud squeaky sound). Luckily, the job is easy enough for the typical homeowner. You just need an aerosol can of garage door lube and an hour to spare on the weekend, and you can knock this job out all by yourself.
Below, we’ll walk you through how to lube a garage door—and which lubricant works best.
Buying Lubricant for Your Garage Door
Before you can begin lubricating your door, make sure you have the right supplies. While you can use a multi-purse lube product like WD-40 in a pinch, it can attract dirt and dust after you apply it.
Instead, visit your local hardware store or browse online for a lithium- or silicone-based garage door lubricant (lithium is preferred). You can find this lube for less than $10, and you’ll get a lot of use out of it.
How to Lubricate a Garage Door
Once you’ve purchased the proper lube for your garage door, here’s what you need to do:
Turn Off Power to the Garage Door
Photo: H_Ko / Adobe StockSafety first. Never start working on a garage door that is still plugged in. If you can’t easily access the cord, or if the door is hardwired, simply shut off power to the garage via the proper breaker in the circuit box.
Thoroughly Clean and Inspect the Tracks and Components
Photo: Yuliya Taba / E+ / Getty ImagesBefore applying the lube, take the opportunity to clean the tracks and components. You won’t actually apply lubricant to the garage door tracks, but if they get packed with debris, it can degrade performance over time.
Start by taking a damp cloth and running it through the tracks. If there is stubborn debris that won’t come loose, run the hose of your wet / dry vac over it. Brake cleaner can also help break down grime.
You’ll also want to wipe down all the components to which you’ll be applying the lube; this helps the lubricant adhere better. Use your ladder for any higher-up, hard-to-reach components.
Lubricate All Components
Photo: knowlesgallery / Adobe StockYour garage door has several mechanical components that should be lubricated. Make sure you hit them all:
Hinges: Each panel of the garage door is connected via hinges on either side. Spray a small amount of the lube onto the hinge pins; one or two sprays per hinge should do the trick. If you spray too much, wipe up any excess with your cloth.
Rollers: The rollers help with the up and down movement of the hinges. Each one has small ball bearings, which you need to lubricate. Use the hose attachment to lube these; again, a little bit of lube goes a long way. Wipe up any excess grease.
Springs and bearing plates: Grab the ladder and spray lube along the entire length of the springs, and get the bearing plates on either end. You’ll want to move the garage door up and down manually after spraying the springs; doing so will help spread the grease around.
Lock and armbar: Finally, use the ladder to reach the lock and armbar. You only need to spray a little amount in the lock’s keyhole; you’ll also want to spray lube onto the armbar.
You may also want to hit the top of the rail—what the chain runs on, along the ceiling of your garage—with a small amount of lube. Check your owner’s manual, however; the rail might already have a natural protectant on it. If you do lubricate the rail, as with the other components, have a rag handy to wipe up excess grease.
Check Your Work and Repeat if Necessary
Photo: mirsad sarajlic / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty ImagesTurn the power to the garage door back on and try opening and closing it. Does it feel and sound smoother? If you can still hear squeaks, you may need to apply more lube.
If it seems to be working properly, your work is done. Repeat these steps on any additional doors your garage has.
If you notice more serious issues with your garage door components when cleaning and lubricating them, contact a professional garage door company in your area to address the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Garage door services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.6★ avg. • 33 total reviews
- Maggie M.
Jason has helped me with multiple household projects, with the most recent being new door installation. He has always showed up on time and organized and has done an incredible job! Jason is very professional and he's now my go-to for anything around my house that needs to be fixed or...
Huff Garage Rescue, LLC - Thomas S.
Company came to look at my garage door that was off track. They also said I needed a brace on the other garage door. They put the door back on track, and I paid to install the brace. The technician told me I needed a new garage door opener, and it would cost $1000. Red flags went off in...
Precision Overhead Garage Door Service - Lisa S.
On Sunday 2/26 I requested quotes via Angi from 4 refrigerator repair businesses. Northwest Appliance responded to me Monday morning (2/27) and my refrigerator was repaired by noon the same day. Great communication, they did everything they said they would. The technician had the parts on...
- Warren C.
Excellent customer service and knowledge. I was recommend to him from my neighbour. My front door and window came in great and were installed beautifully perfectly, I m very satisfied with their excellent work, so decided to order one more big bow window for my living room. I cant wait for...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Matthew L.
Called ahead and worked quickly to install keyless locks on vintage wooden doors.
Expert Lock and Key, LLC - Lori M.
Scott did not get appropriate access to the property prior to the scheduled inspection which required us to come back later in the day to complete it. He also, unprofessionally, knocked on a neighbor?s door in his attempts to reach someone with access. His overall report was fine though the...
Security First Home Inspections - Matt J.
I highly recommend KTM construction! I will look no where else for anything that needs to be done, in or out side of our property. The level of craftsmanship is 5 star service across the board! The level of detail, knowledge and professionalism is 5 star service across the board! Ken is a...
KTM Construction, LLC - Gary K.
Door Depot was very responsive - they came out the day after my call to assess my needs, then returned at my convenience to complete the work. They arrived early, and the work was completed in a shorter period of time than estimated. Very pleased with the results. I would definitely use them...
Door Depot LLC - Jim L.
Replace garage doors: Fast response, competitive estimate, timely work done well.
Village Garage Door - Bruce B.
I would have given an "A" rating were it not for the devil being in the details. 1. The van rear doors, when open, expose the track area and that had not been cleaned. Noticeable only when you look for it and then it's obvious. 2. Was able to get 99.5% of the dog hair out of the cargo area...
614 Detail
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