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The Door House

How Often Should Garage Door Rollers Be Replaced

Put simply, garage door rollers are one of the key components in how smoothly and quietly your door will open and close. They hold the actual door on the door tracks and are an integral part of the entire unit. If you want to make sure your garage door is opening and closing as smoothly and as efficiently as possible, then you need to take good care of these crucial components.

Most door manufacturers recommend spraying lubricant on the rollers and hinges every 6 months.  Regular maintenance will keep them operating properly and help prolong the life of the rollers. Quality, well maintained rollers usually last about 12-15 years.  Here’s what to look for to determine if  it’s time to replace your rollers. 

Performance

A jamming or slow or loud garage door can be a tell-tale sign of faulty garage door rollers. Conducting a visual inspection of your door rollers is simple enough. If you can see visual damage, such as cracks, or wear on your garage door rollers then something needs to be done. If your rollers don’t look damaged or worn out, you should also make sure they’re securely attached to the shaft. Grab hold of the roller and give it a light tug and a wiggle. The roller should remain firm with little wiggling or play. If the roller is sloppy on the shaft the bearing is probably worn out and the roller should be replaced. While it’s easy enough to lubricate your garage door rollers, any replacement should be assessed and carried out by qualified professionals.  NEVER attempt to replace the bottom rollers yourself as all the tension from the springs that lift the door is attached to the bottom roller bracket and severe injury can result.

Garage Door Roller Material

Another thing to take note of is the material your garage door rollers have been manufactured from. The material and composition of the garage door rollers can affect how often you should replace your garage door rollers. For example, cheap plastic rollers are more vulnerable to deterioration as the plastic becomes brittle as they age. Typically, cheap plastic rollers do not have ball-bearings and the door will not run as smoothly as a result. Steel rollers are better in quality and have ball-bearings so the door will run smoother, but the steel on steel contact with the tracks makes them louder.  The best rollers have a nylon “tire” and have metal ball-bearings.  Often referred to as silent rollers, these are the quietest, smoothest operating and longest lasting rollers.

If you think it’s time to replace your garage door rollers or are facing any other issues related to the smooth operation of your garage door, contact the Door House today. Our decades of combined experience and knowledge ensures you’re in good hands.