7 Garage Door Rollers Facts You Need To Know
What Do Garage Door Rollers Do?
Garage door rollers are those rod-and-wheel mechanism that connect the door to a set of tracks. They allow your doors to open and close in a smooth motion. The constant opening and closing of the garage doors will require hard work from the roller, and they will get damaged through years of regular use. Some cheaper quality rollers might even wear out after just one or two years!
Therefore, they will require periodic maintenance and replacement. Here are some vital info you need to know about garage door rollers:
What Are Signs Of Worn-Out Garage Door Rollers?
Even if there’s an average lifespan for rollers, they could get prematurely worn out. Therefore, it’s important to check them periodically and see how they look. You may also want to observe these signs.
– Try to observe if your garage doors have sudden, jerky movements. Rollers that are loose, worn out, or bent in some way are more likely to strain your garage door opener and create irregular movements.
– Another sign is if the garage doors jammed midway. This is a big nuisance if you’re parking your car or leaving the garage! Sometimes, these broken or cracked rollers will prevent the doors from closing entirely. In addition, jammed garage doors will make your property more vulnerable to the elements and potential intruders.
– Of course, look for visible signs of wear and tear. Anything bent or loose (e.g. rod and wheel are getting loose, broken seals) should inform you that it need replacing right away.
How Do I Know When To Replace Them?
What Is The Lifespan Of Rollers?
You could check the manual of your garage door system to find out the lifespan of the components, including the rollers. As with other garage door components, like the springs, garage door rollers have cycle ratings that give an approximate number of cycles they can last.
For nylon rollers, for instance, the typical duration is 10,000. On average, a residential garage door is operated three to five time per day, which counts at around 1,500 cycles per year. So your good-quality nylon rollers should last you about six to seven years, barring any significant damage.
Again, if your rollers look worse for wear and you’re already experiencing issues with the movement of the garage doors, it’s time to replace them.
Does Material Type Matter?
The garage door roller material can affect resistant the roller are to the elements, the noise level they create during cycles, and how much weight of the garage door they can lift. These all have to be considered, along with the price! Each material has its own set of pros and cons, and as a homeowner you’ll have to weigh them against your priorities and necessities.
There are substantial differences in longevity, quality, and price among the different garage door materials in the market. These includes:
Plastic Rollers – these are the most basic and affordable type of roller available. Relatively cheaper, but they will wear out quickly, usually in only a few years.
Steel Rollers with Ball Bearings – these sturdy garage door roller will last you a good 10 to 15 years. However, one disadvantage is that they are pretty noisy compared to other rollers.
Steel Roller without Ball Bearings – through made of steel, these will perform much like plastic rollers and should only last a couple of years. But the key is that it’s not going to be as noisy as rollers with ball bearings.
Nylon rollers – these garage door rollers are the best quality wise, but they are also the most expensive option. These should last about 12 to 20 years and are also smooth and quiet during cycles. Again, they are more costly than all the other materials mentioned.
Can I DIY or Do I Need Professionals?
Garage door roller replacement is a professional’s job – garage doors are heavy mechanisms, one wrong move and it could cause further damage or a freak accident. After all, garage doors are heavy. intricate units.
We suggest that you contact a professional, like Rayburn Garage Doors Co. Our garage door service techs can perform regular maintenance, do thorough inspections, lubricate all the rollers, or replace them if they’re too worn out.
If your garage door rollers are old and damaged, get qualified technicians to get the job done correctly.
How Can I Maintain My Current Rollers?
Plastic garage door rollers have little maintenance requirement; they have a shorter life span than steel ones. But for steel rollers with ball bearings, you could put lubricant regularly. This will help extend the lifespan and keep the rollers moving smoothly per garage door cycle.
Make sure that if you put lubrication that you disengage the garage door opener. Sudden door movements while you’re doing even minor maintenance work might cause an accident!
As for lubrication, too many homeowners use WD-40 for this job. Get a lithium-based or silicon-based lubricant to use on the rollers. WD-40 may be popular, but this type of lube is a no-no as it is a degreaser, and what you want is to add more grease on your rollers! Make sure to with any excess so as not to stain your floors.
Get Garage Door Repair Plano, TX Service Here!
If you don’t have the time or the expertise to lubricate the rollers, call our garage door repair professionals to do the job for you. DIY repairs can result in expensive mistakes, or worse, cause harm to you and your property. If you need new rollers, we have a team of garage door repair Plano, TX experts who can advise about parts. We also perform routine garage door maintenance for residential, commercial and emergency 24/7 service if you need them immediately.
Talk to us today about your garage door rollers concern – we’d love to hear from you!
