Simple Ways to Quiet Down Garage Door Rollers

The garage door rollers make it possible for your door to move smoothly up and down the tracks. However, due to a lack of maintenance and frequency of usage, your garage door rollers may get noisy over time. 

A noisy garage door can be very annoying to operate, especially when you need to use your garage during unsociable hours.in most cases, the weird noises you hear from the garage are usually caused by the rollers. Fortunately, we will discuss some of the best ways to help you remedy that problem. 

Some easiest ways to quiet down your garage door rollers; inspect the rollers, use lubricant and replace your garage door. 

Know Your Garage Door Rollers 

There are numerous types of garage door rollers. However, these types of rollers differ in terms of quality and maintenance. 

Plastic Rollers 

This type of roller is the lowest in quality. Even though they deliver satisfactory performance at best, they are designed to last for only a few years. Contrary to other types of rollers, these rollers do not have ball bearings.

Steel Rollers 

These types of rollers are the longest, they can even last up to two decades, however, they don’t give the best performance and sometimes get noisy.

Nylon Rollers 

These types of rollers are the quietest and also provide the best performance. Based on the quality of the rollers they can last about twelve to twenty years. In most instances, the nylon rollers may contain exposed ball bearings similar to the steel rollers. However, some rollers may come along with covered ball bearings. 

On the other hand, some nylon rollers work like plastic rollers and do not have ball bearings.

How to Quiet  Down Your Noisy Garage Door rollers 

Cut Power Supply 

Before performing any kind of repairs on your garage door, it’s very essential to cut off power as a safety precaution. If the door is open while you are working it can cause a catastrophe. So always ensure to disconnect the opener. 

You also have to disengage the opener, which makes it easy for you to move your garage door up and down manually. Doing this will make it easier for you to access the lower rollers and apply the lubricant as you slide the door along the tracks.

Inspect the Rollers 

Before you gear up, you need to inspect your rollers and look out for those that need only maintenance and those that need to be replaced. Examine each of the rollers individually for missing chunks, misshapen, or wear-outs.

If you realize any of your rollers need to be replaced, contact a garage door technician right away. Sometimes a poorly functioning roller can cause components of the opener to wear down prematurely, this can also make the garage door jump the tracks. Damaged rollers may also induce annoying squeaky and grinding noise. 

Use the Right Lubricant 

While repairing your noisy garage door rollers is a simple task. As the rollers may require proper lubrication and using the right materials for the job.

In most cases, homeowners make the mistake of using oil-based lubricants such as WD40. Sadly this type of lubricant does more harm than good as it is a degreaser. Your rollers need grease to keep them lubricated. We recommend you use either lithium or silicone which is grease and the best bet to lubricate your garage door rollers.

Get a clean cloth, which you will use to wipe off the excess grease after applying the grease on the rollers. You can also place a tarp on your garage floor to protect it from drips and grease stains.

However, based on your height you may need a stepladder to reach the top rollers. 

Replace Your Garage Door Rollers 

The garage door roller is one of the most important pieces of your garage door. They normally roll along the door rails to keep it steady as it opens and closes. You will find the rollers on automatic and manual garage doors.

Most garage doors use steel rollers, which become noisy over time due to their hard-wearing If this is the case, then you should consider replacing them with either Teflon or nylon rollers. As these types of rollers are made of plastics, provide much smoother operations and are less noisy than metal rollers. 

Also Read:

Top garage openers with less noise

How to quiet a garage door easily with these tips

Here are a few steps to help you replace your garage door rollers 

These are the things you will need to get going. 

  1. A new garage door roller
  2. A clamp
  3. Plier 
  4. A pry bar 
  5. A large flat-head screwdriver 

Steps to follow to replace your garage door:

  • First, open up your garage door completely 
  • Put a clamp onto the track approximately ⅔ on top of the door opening.
  • Let go of the garage door from the power opener by pulling down the attached release rope.
  • As a safety precaution, we recommend you disconnect the garage door opener from the outlet. 
  • Use a plier to bend the top tracks slightly open. 
  • Queue up the first roller with the opening.  Use the flathead screwdriver to wedge the roller between the track and remove the old roller from the track.
  • Slide the new roller into the track.
  • Now simply roll down the next roller and do the same procedure for removing and replacing your door rollers. 

 Apply Lubricant on Your Garage Door Rollers

Here is how to lubricate the different types of garage door rollers. 

  • For plastic rollers simply apply the grease onto the exterior of the roller and at the point, the shaft meets with the roller.
  • For steel rollers, simply apply the grease on the ball bearings. The ball bearings are usually located in the innermost part of the roller where it meets with the shaft.
  • To lubricate nylon rollers with no bearings, the lubrication is done the same way as the plastic rollers. 

Bear in mind that you don’t need to lubricate nylon rollers as their ball bearings are covered and don’t require any maintenance. 

Ensure to lubricate your garage door rollers with a light touch and use a clean rag to wipe off any excess grease. You can also use spray cans that come along with straws for easy application. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How can I Make Garage Door Rollers Quieter?

What a garage door owner can do to quiet down is to lubricate the metal parts. And this includes the rollers, hinges, springs, and tracks. Make sure to use the right lubricant purposely designed for metals, such as the 10W-30 motor oil. Using the spray can apply the lubricant onto the metal parts and wipe away the excess with a clean rag.

Can I Use WD40 to Lubricate My Garage Door?

No! simply put off the can. Do you use  WD40 lubricant on your garage door or any other type of penetrating oil? Even though WD40 certainly has its uses, it’s not the best for your garage door. However, the WD40 spray lubricant isn’t a lubricant and can ruin your garage door rollers.

How Do I Make My Garage Door Less Noisy?

  • Tighten up loose parts. In most cases, the major cause of the noise in your garage door is due to loose bolts, screws, and bolts.
  • Lubricate the moving components in your garage door
  • Put up a quiet garage door opener 
  • Replace worn-out door rollers 
  • Replace the springs in your garage door
  • Insulate your garage door 

How Often Should I Lubricate My Garage Door Rollers?

Preferably, you should consider lubricating the moving components of your garage door, just about once every six months to keep them moving smoothly. With the right tools and materials, anyone can grease the garage door rollers and other moving parts.

What Lubricant can I Use for My Door Rollers?

You can use silicone or lithium-based lubricant on your garage door rollers. Make sure you clean the area thoroughly before you apply the lubricant. Apply a considerable amount of lubricant onto the door guide rails.

Can I Spray on My Garage Door Roller?

Spray painting your garage door will renew it and keep it in style from the rest of your home.

Can I Lubricate the Roller Door Tracks?

Metal rollers such as steel rollers have bearings that can be sprayed with lubricant. On the other hand, nylon rollers have their bearings sealed which don’t need to be lubricated. Ensure to use a lithium silicone-based lubricant for your garage door rollers. 

How Do Long Rollers Last on a Garage Door?

Garage door rollers are of different qualities, cycle ratings, and life spans. On average many rollers can last between five to seven years. However, if they are used more often, then you can expect to replace them sooner.

Conclusion 

A noisy garage door can be extremely annoying to deal with. But you don’t have to live with this problem when you can easily fix it. Fortunately, we have covered some of the simplest techniques to help you quiet down your garage door rollers. Read the article clearly and stick to the procedures to achieve better results.

Josephine

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