Maintaining Garage Door Roller Tracks
Cleaning the tracks and rollers is vital for commercial and residential garage doors.
Garage door rollers, often overlooked as a minor part of the garage door system, can be a common cause of issues with garage doors. They can become damaged or broken from misuse, accidents, or normal aging. Broken or damaged rollers' symptoms include difficulty opening or closing the door, strange noises such as squealing or screeching, or the door becoming jammed. Failure to correct the issue may cause other parts, such as the door opener, tracks, and springs, to become damaged. Expensive repairs can be avoided by following simple garage door maintenance tips.
Garage door inspection
In many instances, garage door repairs can be avoided if the owner inspects the rollers and tracks regularly, as there are usually signs to catch damage before it happens. Notable signs include slow opening speeds, strange noises, pitting, discoloration, and dryness because of lack of grease, rust, and corrosion. These issues should be addressed as soon as possible to avoid future damage.
Cleaning the tracks and rollers
Cleaning the tracks and rollers is vital for commercial and residential garage doors. The rollers run along a metallic track during opening and closing. Over time, dust, oil, water, and leaves can accumulate on the tracks. This could interfere with how smoothly the rollers operate and may lead to pitting—minute cracks and holes—if rust or acidic substances are present. Regular cleaning will prevent costly and time-consuming garage door repairs.
Proper lubrication
The rollers and tracks of a garage door come coated with grease or lube, which reduces friction and the energy used to operate the door. The initial grease or lube will become depleted over time. Cleaning and re-greasing the rollers regularly helps detect and prevent further damage and eventual failure of other garage door parts, such as openers, springs, or tracks.
Re-aligning the tracks
Faulty garage door springs and tracks contribute to roller damage. The rollers must run on a level surface, and the distance inside the roller must be uniform to function properly. However, the tracks may become misaligned due to missing or loose nuts and bolts. Imbalanced springs may also exert too much pressure on one edge of the track, meaning it could wear off faster than the other side. Such issues can be resolved by ensuring the tracks are lined and the nuts and bolts are properly secured.
Following the above tips reduces the possibility of the rollers becoming damaged prematurely, saving the homeowner time and money from professional repairs.
Quality Overhead Door, Inc. is a full-service garage door installation and repair company for both residential and commercial customers in the GIlbert area 480-838-8850.
