In Need of Garage Door Roller Repair? We Can Help!
Your garage door rollers sit inside the door tracks and facilitate smooth movement when the door opens and closes. The rollers are connected to a shaft that slides into the door’s sleeve bracket. The rollers move steadily every time you open or close the garage door, which means they’re subject to a lot of wear and tear. Proper maintenance, prompt repairs, and timely garage door roller replacements are essential to keeping this entry point accessible and functional.
Garage Door Roller Repair in Greater Chicago
Overhead Garage Door, Inc. is a full-service garage door installation and repair company. We offer same-day, 24-hour emergency service throughout greater Chicagoland and southeast Wisconsin.
Types of Garage Door Rollers
There are three primary types of garage door rollers that you can choose from. Identifying the current type of roller in your garage will let you know what to expect. Exploring your options may lead you to a better upgrade when you schedule your next garage door roller replacement. The most common options include:
- Plastic Rollers: Plastic rollers aren’t very common because they’re not as durable as other options. These are the most basic types of installation and may be what you have in place if you’ve recently purchased a home where the previous owners weren’t worried about the longevity of the product.
- Steel Rollers: Steel rollers are a durable choice. They can handle a lot of weight, which makes them the natural option for some heavier types of doors. Steel rollers with ball bearings will last for several years. However, if you have steel rollers without ball bearings, they’re comparable to plastic in terms of longevity and may only function for a few years. Though steel is strong, it’s also very noisy.
- Nylon Rollers: Nylon rollers are the priciest option but for good reason. They move smoothly and quietly. The nylon material helps absorb vibrations, which improves overall functionality. High-quality nylon rollers can last for up to 20 years when properly maintained.
North Shore:
Lake Forest, IL | Highland Park, IL | Glenview, IL | Deerfield, IL | Northbrook, IL | Lake Bluff, IL | Glencoe, IL | Wilmette, IL | Winnetka, IL | Lincolnshire, IL | Riverwoods, IL | Northfield, IL
Northwest:
Barrington, IL | Long Grove, IL | Hawthorn Woods, IL | Buffalo Grove, IL | Schaumburg, IL | Lake Zurich, IL | Arlington Heights, IL | Mt. Prospect, IL | Palatine, IL | Des Plaines, IL | Kildeer, IL
Lake County:
Gurnee, IL | Libertyville, IL | Mundelein, IL | Vernon Hills, IL | Grayslake, IL | Lindenhurst, IL | Green Oaks, IL | Round Lake Beach, IL | Wauconda, IL | Lake Villa, IL
McHenry, IL | Crystal Lake, IL | Woodstock, IL | Algonquin, IL | Cary, IL | Lake in the Hills, IL | Fox River Grove, IL | Spring Grove, IL | Harvard, IL | Huntley, IL
DuPage County:
Naperville, IL | Wheaton, IL | Bloomingdale, IL | Glen Ellyn, IL | Glendale Heights, IL | Downers Grove, IL | Lombard, IL | Bartlett, IL | Carol Stream, IL | Oakbrook, IL | Itasca, IL
Kane County:
St. Charles, IL | Geneva, IL | Batavia, IL | Elgin, IL | Hampshire, IL | Dundee, IL | Aurora, IL | South Elgin, IL | West Dundee, IL | Carpentersville, IL
Winnebago County:
Rockford, IL | Loves Park, IL | South Beloit, IL
Kenosha County:
Kenosha, WI | Brighton, WI | Paris, WI | Randall, WI | Somers, WI | Wheatland, WI
Racine County:
Racine, WI | Burlington, WI | Dover, WI | Norway, WI | Waterford, WI
Walworth County:
Delavan, WI | Elkhorn, WI | Lake Geneva, WI | Whitewater, WI
Garage Door Roller Maintenance
The average garage door cycles open and closed about three to five times a day. This equates to about 1,500 cycles a year. Your rollers will naturally sustain wear and tear during this time. You should regularly lubricate your rollers with a silicone-based lubricant to keep them moving as smoothly as possible.
Keep debris such as leaves and twigs away from the garage door tracks. Periodically clean the tracks and rollers to remove dust, dirt, cobwebs, and other accumulated buildup. Inspect the rollers every time you clean them to make sure there are no cracks, chips, or other signs of damage.
Signs You Need Garage Door Roller Repairs
It’s important to keep an eye on your garage door function so you can identify potential problems early. Left untended, garage door problems will usually worsen. This may leave you with an entirely inoperable door. If the garage door gets stuck in an open position, this also leaves you vulnerable to intruders, the weather, and unwanted vermin who might come to visit your garage. Prompt action is always the best method of attack when it comes to garage door roller repairs.
Jerky Movement
If your garage door shakes and jerks about when it’s opening and closing, the garage door roller wheels may need more lubrication. Dry rollers and tracks won’t function as smoothly as they should, and this can become apparent just by watching how a poorly maintained door moves.
Jammed Garage Door
If your garage door is getting jammed when you attempt to open or close it, you may have a problem with your garage door roller brackets. The brackets keep the roller system secure, but they can’t do their job properly without regular maintenance. Brackets that are not cleaned and oiled regularly may get stuck, causing issues for the whole system.
Uneven Door Movement
When the garage door is functioning properly, it will lift smoothly and evenly. Both sides of the door should stay at the same height as the door moves. If one side is higher than the other, you likely have a problem with your garage door rollers as they’re not moving at the same speed. Lubrication may help, but garage door roller replacement is likely the better option.
Excessive Noise
Your garage door should roll relatively smoothly with a reasonable amount of noise. While steel rollers will make more noise than nylon ones, you shouldn’t have excessive noise with any type of installation. If your garage door is suddenly louder than before or you notice new sounds such as rattling, banging, or clanking, you should contact a professional for garage door repair services.
Visible Damage
The garage door roller wheels should always appear intact. Though they might get a little dirty or discolored over time depending on the material, they should never appear chipped or cracked. If you can see physical damage on the surface of the garage door roller, you should contact a professional for an immediate repair.
Garage Door Roller Replacement
The type of roller you have will determine how often you need a replacement. Plastic rollers will last for about three to five years. Steel rollers are more durable and will typically function for five to seven years. With nylon rollers, you can enjoy a decade or more of functional use.
Having a general idea of how long your garage door rollers will last can help you plan appropriately for future replacement needs. However, you should keep in mind that unexpected repairs can pop up at any time. If you notice any of the warning signs listed above, you may have a broken garage door roller and will likely need to schedule a garage door roller replacement sooner than you may have anticipated.
Schedule Professional Care for Your Garage Door Rollers in Greater Chicago
If your garage door isn’t operating as it should, contact our team at Overhead Garage Door. We can help you diagnose any problem with your overhead garage door rollers and develop a prompt solution. You shouldn’t have to work around a broken, jammed, noisy, or poorly functioning garage door. Our expert technicians will help you get to the bottom of the problem, whether you need an easy repair or a full garage door roller replacement. Schedule your visit now.