Having a busted garage door can be a pain. Imagine yourself late for work and you can’t get your car out because your garage door just won’t budge. Normally, it needs fixing. No need to call the repair guy, sometimes, problems concerning garage doors are very simple that you can even do it on your own.
If you’re hearing awful squeaking noises on your garage door, it just needs to be lubricated on the metal tracks. But keep in mind that you cannot use grease on roll up doors such as these, because dirt/dust tend to stick to this stuff and eventually clog up and make it more difficult to open or close it.
So what to use for your garage door? SILICONE SPRAY ONLY, according to a garage door website; “Do not lubricate the guide sections with oil, grease or any other petroleum based product. Recent development in lubrication technology has witnessed the introduction of silicone sprays which are readily available and offer suitable lubrication for roller door guide sections.”
What exactly is a silicone spray?
Silicone Spray is used as a lubricant on a variety of surfaces such as metals, rubber, and wood etc. It also used to prevent rust on metal objects or to protect electrical parts and as water repellent etc. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, cookware, and filling. It can be a liquid oil, a resin (silicone caulk in the tube), or a rubber (dried silicone caulk).
Because silicone oil is very slippery and non-reactive to most substances, it can lubricate almost anything. It works really well on plastic parts, locks, hinges and guns. The most common type of distribution is in spray form. The fact that it is in spray allows you to put it in places that liquid oil and greases cannot be applied to. As silicone spray is water resistant, it can also protect items from moisture. It keeps hinges working smoothly especially during winter season.
So why silicone sprays on garage doors?
Silicone spray on garage doors are usually recommended because they are inexpensive and available anywhere. It is also a very effective lubricant and most of all, it does not attract dirt and dust, therefore keeping the metal tracks and roller bearings clean. It also has an anti-corrosion property which protects the tracks from rusting in the long term.
Caution though, do not, I REPEAT, do not use WD 40! WD 40 is a solvent and will break down any grease and causes drying of the metal surface – which eventually leads to more friction. It also attracts dust and dirt to it. Aside from silicone spray on garage doors, it is recommended to use a heavy duty silicone spray. The thicker the silicone spray, the better. Ordinary silicone sprays loses their lubricant properties fairly quickly. The heavy duty silicone spray with a thicker spray tends to lubricate for longer. If you use your door a lot I suggest spraying the door down every 6 months- for lighter users, once a year.
Using silicone sprays on garage doors may work wonders but always remember: Nothing on the tracks-always keep them clean and use silicone spray in moderation!