Your garage door requires many different parts working together in order for it to function. Each part is an instrument, and the functionality of the garage door is the orchestra. One vital part of this orchestra is the rollers. Garage door rollers help your garage door tracks move, allowing your garage door to open and close as needed. Your rollers, like the other instruments in your garage door orchestra, also require maintenance and may sometimes need replacing. Today you will learn more about rollers, from maintenance and replacement to the material with which they are manufactured.
Types of Garage Door Rollers
Before you dive into maintaining and replacing them, there are a few types of garage door rollers commonly used in residential and commercial garage doors. These rollers are made of either nylon, steel, or plastic. Nylon rollers are notable due to their being quiet when in use. The material also keeps these rollers from wearing out too quickly. Steel rollers are easy to lubricate but produce more noise. Plastic rollers are considered the standard new garage door accessory and last for two or three years before they need replacing, making nylon and steel more durable options.
Maintenance
The recommended timing of overall garage door maintenance is every six months or twice a year. When the time comes to give attention to your garage door rollers, you need to follow these three crucial steps: inspection, cleaning, and lubrication.
1. Inspection
After closing and powering off your garage door, you will want to take a look at the state of each component of your garage door. When you get to the garage door rollers, check the bearings (if they have any) for any dust and dirt. Also, check the state of the wheels. After assessing the extent of grime and dirt trapped in the rollers, move on to the next step.
2. Cleaning
Before lubricating anything, you will need to clean out dirt from the rollers using a damp cloth. Once all the grime is out, make sure to use a different cloth to dry each roller before the final step for their maintenance.
3. Lubrication
If your rollers are made of nylon and come with sealed bearings, skip this step. If your nylon rollers are bearing-less or your rollers are plastic, apply the lubrication to the outside of the rollers. For steel or ball-bearing nylon rollers, the lubricant should be applied to the ball bearings themselves.
When To Replace Your Rollers
Is your garage door producing a louder-than-usual or odd clicking sound when rolling up and down? Were your garage door springs recently replaced? Is there noticeable wearing down or rust in your rollers? Is the roller’s stem rusting or about to break off? Is your garage door getting stuck while in motion? If you answered yes to any one of these questions, it means that the time has come to replace your rollers. For your safety, your best option is to call a professional to install the replacement garage door rollers.
We Are Here To Help!
Congratulations on your new knowledge about garage door rollers. Understanding this part of your garage door system will make it easier for you to identify any problems and carry out biannual maintenance. If you need new rollers, need help with maintenance, or still have questions about them, our garage door experts at Metal Garage Door Repair will not waste a single second meeting your needs. Contact us to keep your garage door rolling smoothly.
