It’s crucial to maintain the excellent condition of rollers since they are vital to the garage door’s operation.
Hence, you need to inspect them regularly to spot the issues ahead of time.
Poor maintenance, age, and usage can all affect the condition of your rollers.
Moreover, this guide will help you learn more about rollers and how to replace a broken garage door roller.
What is a Garage Door Roller?
Garage doors can’t move smoothly without the rollers.
Rollers are located along the track to secure the garage door in place when you open and close it.
They come in three different materials – plastic, nylon, and steel.
Out of the three, steel has the most durable and noisiest operation, and you need to check it regularly for rust.
Plastic, on the other hand, is the cheapest but is prone to cracks.
Similarly, nylon has almost the same characteristic as plastic but is the most expensive.
Depending on the type of roller you have, the damage may vary.
It lasts for a few years for plastic rollers, primarily if you use your garage door all the time.
Steel rollers with ball bearings last between 10 to 15 years, while the steel with no bearings has almost the same lifespan as the plastic rollers.
Meanwhile, nylon rollers can last for 12 to 20 years when well-maintained.
They have a quiet operation and perform best when compared to other rollers.
Despite the long life of rollers, they are still prone to damage.
This is why you need to regularly maintain them regardless of what type of roller you have.
How do Rollers Break?
If you’re wondering why your rollers break, these are the following reasons:
Lack of maintenance: Taking care of the rollers is one way to lengthen their life. One way to maintain them is to lubricate them once in a while.
If you’re a little bit lax with lubrication, the rust can build up in the rollers which can cause problems to the garage door’s operation.
Material: As mentioned above, plastic rollers are more susceptible to wear and tear. Nylon is also prone to wearing despite the long life span.
To make sure you buy the type of roller based on your preference, seek help from an emergency garage door service in Pittsburgh.
Bent hinges: Damage on hinges can affect the condition of the rollers. When the hinges break, it can put a lot of stress on the rollers since the damage can make the door off-track.
Incorrect rollers: The rollers you buy depend on the type of garage door. If you have purchased the wrong roller for your garage door, it can wear out the roller quickly.
With this, you need to ask a garage door repair company near you to have an idea of the correct rollers to buy.
Moreover, before replacing the garage door roller for good, observe the following indicators if one of them is happening to your garage door.
- The popping sound from your garage door might be due to the breaking of rollers.
- Wiggle the roller. If it is loose, it’s time to replace it. Ideally, rollers should not have enough room to move.
- The cracks or missing rubber can affect the performance of the roller.
- The garage door vibrates when it’s opening or closing. When this happens, it is likely due to loose rollers. When rollers are loose, they can quickly leave the tracks.
- If your roller is a steel type, it is prone to rust. Rusting can reduce the quality of the roller, which can also impact the operation of the door.
The Procedure
When you see the signs above happening in your garage door, you need to fix the issue quickly.
Damaged rollers can strain the opener and other parts of the garage door system.
Hence, replacing is the best way to keep overhead doors functional.
Make sure to replace them to prevent costly repairs to other parts.
Moreover, watch this video on how to replace a broken garage door roller.
It has comprehensive instruction perfect for DIYers.
When in doubt, call Garage Door Pitt!
While replacing a broken garage door roller is a bit easy, you still need to consider safety measures to do the job safely.
Make sure to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and turn off the opener’s power to prevent accidents.
However, if you’re in doubt about replacing the garage door roller by yourself, you can count on Garage Door Pitt to assist you.
We know how to replace a broken garage door roller safely and quickly.
Call our team in Pittsburgh, and we’ll be happy to assist you!
