Roller shutters are a great way to add security and privacy to windows, but they also tend to need more maintenance than regular windows. When you close a roller shutter it moves on rollers that have bearings. These bearings can accumulate dirt and dust over time which will reduce the life of the roller and cause excess friction as it rolls. This high friction reduces your shutters ability to move up and down smoothly over time. The best thing you can do for your roller shutters is lubricating them regularly to maintain their smooth operation.
Most of the time, you will only need to lubricate your roller doors occasionally. However, if you live somewhere very humid or use your door more frequently, then you may need to do this more often. Factors that can affect how often you’ll need to grease roller shutters include climate and location, as well as the materials used in making the door itself. With DIY guidelines, anyone can successfully lubricate their own roller shutters at home without any fuss. When done properly, it should only take around 10 minutes. Remember – heat insulating roller shutters require a bit more maintenance than roller shutters used in colder countries.
First, let’s go over some common misconceptions about this general upkeep task:
1) Putting too much oil on your garage rollers is a bad thing! Don’t do it!
2) If your garage door is made of metal then you should apply some sort of lubricant that has rust protection properties, as well as preventing sticking and squeaking noises that will occur over time with regular usage of the door.
3) If your roller shutter does not close properly or there’s a gap between where it closes at the bottom, it needs fixing immediately! Fixing this problem right away will prevent possible accidents involving children or pets exiting through an open door unsupervised.
When it comes to roller shutter doors, they are either manually or automatically operated by an electric motor. The maintenance aspect is different depending on the type of shutter you have. For example manual shutters do not require regular oiling however automatic shutters require regular lubrication of all moving parts to keep them operating smoothly. At the end of every season you should open up your rollers and thoroughly grease each moving part that moves against one another. This will prevent squeaks and difficulty opening over time as well as prolong its life span . Using a spray grease is not recommended as this may cause the rollers to operate in an uneven motion.
If you want to save money and do it yourself, an easy way is to pop open the panel and place a small cloth at the corner of each roller track. The moving parts should be greased by hand . However, when lubricating your automatic shutters please make sure that it has been fully opened before applying oil onto any part of its mechanism otherwise your shutter will not function properly. You can also check our blog on how to maintain roller shutters for more information!
There are 3 types of lubricants that you should use:
- Oil based lubricant (WD40 or 3-in-1 oil)
2. Semi-solid grease (Teflon or Lithium lubricant)
3. Liquid silicone (available at any hardware store)
Also, if your shutters are metal, they will need to be oiled. If you aren’t sure what your metal roller shutters are made of, it’s best just to buy an oil based lubricant that is safe for both metals and plastics. Palmolive dish soap works well as a cheaper alternative to most lubricants because it contains Teflon, but it is more viscous than other alternatives so the method of application is different. The type of lubricant you use specifically depends on how dirty your rollers are and how often you plan on using them. Semi-solid grease should only be used when the rollers are extremely dirty, whereas oil should be used more regularly. Silicone-based sprays should not be used to lubricate the bearings. This is due to the fact that silicon will cause the plastic components’ surface to become brittle.
If you want to test whether or not your shutters need lubricant, simply try turning the wheels by hand and see how difficult it is. If they’re hard to turn, then they definitely need lubrication. Some people like to use WD-40 because its spray form makes it easy to apply all over the rollers, but this is unnecessary if you purchase a product that is specifically formulated for roller shutters. Simply spray some of your chosen lubricant on the wheel axels where the blades attach and wipe away any excess with a cloth or paper towel (if using soap). You don’t necessarily have to remove each blade individually; however cleaning them one by one can help prevent any dirt or grime being left behind on the blades.
Now that the rollers are lubricated, they should be more easily rolled up and down.
If your roller shutters are not moving up and down, there may be a more serious problem with the rollers such as the axel coming loose. If this is the case, you will need to contact us as we are roller shutter repair specialists.