Is It Necessary to Lubricate Garage Door Track?

Is it necessary to lubricate garage door track? Several moving components work harmoniously to make your garage door functional. Sometimes, you may find the door noisier or sluggish when opening or closing.
What could be the reason? The most probable reason is the lack of lubrication. You must lubricate all moving parts once every 6 months to keep your door optimally functional. Should I lubricate garage door tracks like other moving parts? Let us discuss this topic further to understand the facts.

What is the Role of Garage Door Tracks?

Tracks play a critical role in the seamless movement of your garage door. Your door moves through these stationary metal lanes to open and close smoothly. They house the rollers and provide them with a smooth and stable pathway to ensure proper, controlled movements of your garage door.

Should I Lubricate Garage Door Track?

It is a fact that moving parts of a garage door need lubrication. What about tracks? Understand that tracks are an exception. Therefore, you do not need to lubricate them. Why? The primary function of this component is to guide the rollers to move in a stable path. Therefore, the tracks don’t have to be slippery or smooth like other moving parts.

Let us delve into facts a bit deeper. What is the fundamental role of a lubricant? It lowers the friction to ensure smooth movements of various parts. Remember that tracks do not have any direct frictional interaction with any other elements of your garage door. The rollers are the moving component that reduces the friction. Therefore, focus on lubricating rollers instead of the tracks.

What Happens If You Lubricate Garage Door Track?

Many homeowners lubricate tracks without properly understanding the facts. The tracks become sticky when you apply lubricants. Over time, they accumulate impurities like dirt, dust, debris, and even airborne particles to form a gritty layer.

Don’t let this happen to your garage door tracks. The dirt and debris buildup does not promote smooth movements of rollers. In other words, this situation impedes the natural movements of rollers within the tracks. That is when you find the door a bit sluggish or hear unusual noises.

Potential Risk Factors
As mentioned above, compromised traction can lead to safety hazards. When there is not enough traction or grip for rollers, you cannot expect them to stay steadily inside the tracks. Then, the rollers might slip out of alignment with the tracks to make the door inefficient. The possible consequences are jamming and unevenness. Eventually, the door may fall, causing property damage and fatal injuries.

Is it necessary to lubricate the garage door track? The final answer is no. Do not lubricate your garage door tracks. Instead, you can clean them using a damp cloth to remove dirt and debris. Use a mild detergent to eliminate stubborn grime. At the same time, do not forget to lubricate other moving parts like rollers, springs, and hinges. Select a top-quality lubricant to achieve the best results. You can use silicone or lithium-based products to lubricate the moving parts of your garage door.