Installing garage roller doors not only enhances your home appearance but it improves the value of your property. But, if you’re not cleaning and maintaining your roller door tracks on a regular basis, they won’t last as long as they should.
Your roller garage doors are likely being used on a daily basis and most times, more than once a day. Wear and tear will be common from such usage. If you’re not performing regular maintenance, your roller doors will start to grate or drag during operation. Eventually, they will stop closing or opening, leading to much frustration!
To keep your doors in prime condition, we recommend using the following step-by-step guide to cleaning and maintaining the roller door tracks.
Why It’s Important to Clean Garage Roller Door Tracks
Regular usage, dirt and grease build-up are some of the common reasons your garage roller doors will start to give you hassles. The tracks are used to keep the rollers aligned and functioning optimally during operation. If the tracks become worn down or dirty, the rollers will not work properly.
We recommend you clean and maintain your roller door tracks every three months. Use our tips to help you keep your garage roller doors in good condition and running smoothly for many years.
1. Clear Out the Garage
In order to access the rollers and tracks comfortably and safely, it’s essential to remove any items that may get in the way. Take your vehicles out of the garage and clear enough space around the garage doors for you to move around unhampered.
Close the garage doors and use a stepladder to carry out an inspection of the rollers and tracks inside the garage. You may need to use a head torch to give you additional lighting.
2. Clean or Replace the Rollers
On inspection, you should be able to assess if the rollers are worn out or if they need cleaning. If the rollers are worn out, discard them and replace with new ones. A build-up of grease or dirt on the rollers can be cleaned using an old toothbrush. Wipe the residue away with a clean rag.
Metal rollers with open bearings can be sprayed with a lubricant. Nylon rollers with closed bearings don’t need to be sprayed. Make sure you use either a silicone spray oil or lithium-based lubricant for the rollers and watch out for any drops on the garage floor while spraying. These can be wiped up with a rag.
3. Inspect the Nuts and Bolts
Nuts and bolts are used to hold the track mounting in place as well as the hinges of the rollers. Over time, these can become loose or worn down. Tighten any nuts and bolts that are loose. If they need to be removed or replaced, it is best to contact a garage door professional.
You can also use an old toothbrush to remove any debris and grease that has accumulated on the hardware. The hinges may be sprayed with a silicone-based lubricant.
4. Clean the Tracks
With the garage doors still closed, bring your attention to the tracks. Before cleaning, make sure the power to the doors has been disconnected or turned off. Using a damp cloth, wipe any dirt away from inside the tracks. An old toothbrush can be used to dislodge thick dirt and a vacuum cleaner can also be used to remove debris from the hard-to-reach areas. For stubborn dirt and debris, you can use an automotive brake cleaner to wipe down the tracks. Do not use any lubricant on the tracks.
5. Clean and Lubricate Springs and Bearing Plates
Once you’re done with cleaning the rollers and tracks, open the garage doors. Using the silicone or lithium-based lubricant, spray the springs and bearing plates at the top of the doors. Also, spray the outside of the springs and towards the centre of the bearing plates. Once done, close and open the doors to distribute the lubricant.
If any of the springs or bearing plates are worn down or damaged, remove them and replace with new parts.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning your garage roller door tracks and other parts on a regular basis keeps your roller doors in top condition and extend their lifetime. If you’re not sure whether the tracks need replacing or repair work done on them, call us at Dandenong Garage Doors on 03 9791 4933 for more advice. When it comes to roller garage doors Melbourne homeowners have been using us since 1976!
