Local Conditions
Dust, Tracks and Rollers
The single most common preventable failure we see in Lubbock, and the easiest one to avoid.
What dust actually does
Fine grit works into the roller bearings and grinds the races. The roller stops rolling and starts dragging, which loads the track, the hinges, the springs and the opener on every single cycle.
Lubbock averages roughly 19 mph of wind against about 18 inches of annual rain. There is very little to wash airborne dust out of the air, so it settles into every horizontal surface, including your tracks.
How do I stop Lubbock dust wrecking my garage door?
- Brush the tracks out two or three times a year, and after any significant dust storm. A stiff brush and a vacuum is all it takes.
- Wipe the tracks with a dry or barely damp cloth. Do not oil them. They are a running surface and oil there just holds more dust.
- Lubricate rollers, hinges and springs with a proper garage door lubricant, not WD-40.
- Wipe the photo-eye lenses while you are down there. Dust on those is the main reason Lubbock doors refuse to close. See sensors.
- Check the bottom seal. A perished seal lets dust straight into the garage as well as under the door.
Nylon rollers
Steel rollers with exposed bearings are what most doors ship with, and they are the first thing dust destroys here. Sealed nylon rollers cost a little more, run considerably quieter, and last far longer in this climate. On a door that is already getting loud, a full set is one of the most worthwhile things you can spend money on.
Questions we get asked
How often should I clean the tracks in Lubbock?
Two or three times a year as a baseline, plus after any major dust event.
My door got loud suddenly. Is that dust?
Usually. Grinding and scraping is nearly always rollers and tracks rather than the opener. Detail on noisy doors.
Can dust break a spring?
Not directly, but a dragging door makes the springs work harder on every cycle, which shortens their life. See spring repair.
What should I use to clean garage door tracks?
A dry cloth and a vacuum. The track is a guide, not a bearing surface, so it wants to be clean and dry rather than lubricated — grease in a track collects caliche dust and turns into a grinding paste. Lubricate the rollers, hinges and springs; wipe the track.
Do nylon rollers really last longer in Lubbock?
Yes, and the difference here is bigger than in wetter parts of Texas. Steel rollers run metal-on-metal in a bearing that fine grit gets into. Sealed nylon rollers keep the dust out of the bearing and run quieter. On a door that gets daily use in this county it is one of the few upgrades that pays for itself.
How can I tell dust damage from a spring problem?
Lift the door by hand with the opener disconnected. If it moves but feels gritty and noisy throughout, that is rollers and tracks. If it feels extremely heavy or will not stay put when you let go halfway, that is the spring, and you should stop and call rather than keep testing it.
Get it fixed today
Door getting rough and noisy? Often it is rollers rather than anything expensive. Call and ask.