Sometimes the rollers on your garage door can become damaged, affecting the overall functionality of your overhead door. Knowing what can cause damage to the rollers on your garage door can help you prevent problems in the future. Luckily, Garage Door Repair of Fort Worth, TX can help you know what to look for when trying to prevent damage to your garage door rollers.
Rusty Rollers
Did you know your rollers can become rusty? They absolutely can! Especially if they do not have enough lubrication. When your rollers become rusty, there is really no way to repair them, and they will have to be replaced.
Those who live in coastal areas, especially within a quarter mile of the coast, tend to struggle with this problem the most. This is due to the salt in the air. The salt will eat away at any of your garage doors metal parts causing terrible damage, including rust.
Some companies manufacture rollers that are made with a powder coated track system. This particular system will allow the track to last two to three times longer than others. Hiring a professional to install this type of track system would help extend the life of your garage door. Also, lubricating your rollers anywhere from three to four times a year can help keep your rollers from oxidizing as well.
Plastic Wheels
Some rollers have wheels that are made of plastic or contain some kind of nylon tread. These wheels tend to be worn down by the rollers, causing the tread to wear down quickly. When this happens, the diameter of the wheels become smaller in size. In fact, they become so small that they eventually pop out of the track entirely.
Using a roller that contains steel wheels can solve this problem. The roller will not wear down the size of the wheels, which ultimately helps the wheels last as long as the lifespan of the roller.
Bent Hinges
Another way that wheels can become worn is if you have any bent hinges. When the hinges are bent, the stem of the roller no longer has the perfect 90 degree angle with the track that it needs. This can cause wear and tear on the wheels.
If you have any bent hinges, you may want to consider hiring a professional to help you repair the issue. If the problem continues to be untreated, then it can be detrimental to the life of your overhead door.
Improper Rating
Paying attention to the rating of your overhead door rollers is very important. If they are not rated for the proper weight of your garage door, they can wear out sooner than normal.
All garage doors require a sturdy roller that can withstand the weight of the door itself. Custom wood doors are especially heavy, usually outweighing a basic steel residential door, by at least three or four times.
Door in Upright Position
Anytime your door is in the upright position, the full weight of the garage door is resting on the rollers. This puts a lot of stress on your garage door rollers. The only time the weight of the garage door is not resting on the rollers is when it’s completely in its downward position. That is because the weight then rests on the bottom edge of the garage door rather than the rollers.
If you want to prevent wear and tear on your garage door rollers, try to keep the door closed in the most downward position as much as possible. This will help alleviate some of the stress on the rollers, extending its life.
Knowing what can cause stress and damage to your garage door rollers and how to prevent it can help keep your overhead door running as smoothly as possible for many years to come. If you are ever in need of help with repairing or replacing your garage door rollers, Garage Door Repair in Fort Worth, TX is always here and ready to help.
