Replace Or Refresh: How To Determine If Your Garage Door Rollers Are Worth Salvaging

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If there's one noise that will set your teeth on edge when you're leaving for work in the morning or going to fetch the lawnmower on the weekend, it's a squeaky garage door. Often it's the rollers that are responsible. It may be that some important steps to maintain the garage door have been forgotten, or it could simply be that the rollers are old and worn. When looked after properly, they have a life expectancy of anywhere from 10 to 20 years, but they will need to be replaced eventually.

However, it's a task that is best handled by a professional (don't be fooled into trying this viral fix) and can cost anywhere from $100 to $300 depending on the type of roller, so it's useful to be able to determine if your garage door rollers are worth salvaging. Before you do that, it's a good idea to check that hinges or springs aren't loose, just in case they are the source of an unusual noise.

Assuming it is the rollers, you then need to decide whether to replace or refresh. If the rollers look okay, the solution might be as simple as lubricating them. If they're rusty or damaged, then replacement is usually necessary. Let's look at the common problems and solutions in a bit more detail.

When you should try lubricating your garage door rollers and when you should replace them

Lubricating your garage door rollers is obviously the cheapest and easiest solution, but although there are a host of genius tips for using WD-40 around the home, it's not the right thing to reach for in this case. Instead, you should use a dedicated product that doesn't attract dirt. This will help to reduce wear on the bearings. 3-in-1 Garage Door Lubricant is a popular choice available on Amazon for under $8. With luck, that will be all that's needed to quiet the rollers.

If there's only a small amount of rust, a lubricant might be enough to displace it. If it has gotten to the point where the bearings are sticking or seized, then the rollers will rub rather than rotate. This causes that unpleasant squealing, particularly with metal rollers. These will need to be replaced. The same is true with rubber or nylon rollers if the outer cover has split or is missing completely. If there's nothing obvious, but the rollers are still noisy, even after lubrication, it's likely they are simply worn out. Once again, replacement is the only option.

Whether your garage door rollers need refreshing or replacing, it's not a job you should put off. They can put undue stress on the opening mechanism or motor, jam the door, damage the track, or even cause the door to jump off, potentially damaging vehicles or causing personal injury.

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