The metal elements supporting your garage door need to be well lubricated so they can run smoothly. Without lubrication, these parts can stick and stall, putting unnecessary pressure on your garage door motor. Want to remove the stress from your motor? Here's some tips for lubricating your garage door:

1. Hinges 

There are hinges all over your garage door. They sit between the panels of the door where it folds as it moves, and in most cases, several hinges are spread throughout the width of the door. Grab your lubrication, and squirt a bit on each edges of the hinges so that they can move easily.

2. Bearing and Track

On the edges of the garage door, you should see bearings connected to the door with metal hardware. These bearings run up and down the track, facilitating its opening and closing. If the bearings are stuck in the track, your motor has to strain to move them.

Spray lubricant in the track and around the bearing. Note some garage doors have sealed tracks. If yours is sealed, you won't be able to see the bearings, and you don't have to worry about lubricating them.

3. Torsion Springs

The torsion springs are typically located at the top of your garage door. They provide the tension necessary for the garage door motor to pull your door up and let it down without dropping it. These springs get energy by twisting, and in order for them to work correctly, they also need to be moved easily. Simply spray a bit of lubricant along the top of these springs. You will need a ladder to reach them in most cases.

4. Top Tracks

While on your ladder, move it to the sides and continue to lubricate your door's tracks. You should have gotten the vertical tracks while you were lubricating the bearings, but these horizontal tracks sit near the ceiling of your garage and are impossible for most people to reach without a ladder. Spray the lubricant liberally over these tracks.

5. Screw Drive

In between the top tracks, jutting out from your garage door motor, you should have a screw drive. This is a piece of metal that holds the chain connected to your motor. You don't need to lubricate the chain, as most come with a special coating, but you should lubricate the metal surrounding it. In addition, if there is a pulley near your motor, lubricate that as well.

If you have lubricated everything and your motor still seems to be straining to lift your garage door, you may want to consult with a professional. 

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