How to Fix a Noisy Garage Door?

Your garage door making a racket and driving your family members and neighbors crazy? Don’t let a squeaking, rattling garage door ruin your mood first thing in the morning. The good news is it takes just take a few quick fixes to solve the problem.            

Here are some tips to fix a noisy garage door

1. Tighten all the nuts and bolts

Your garage door system is made up of many nuts, bolts and screws that keep garage door parts fixed in their places. However, daily lifting and moving down can make them loose and rattling. You can take care of this problem with a wrench and a socket set. If your problem still exists, it is time to move to second tip.

2. Inspect the rollers

Worn out rollers can be a big reason why your garage door is making loud, squeaking noises. If the rollers do appear worn, it might be a good idea to have them replaced. Most track rollers comprise of unsealed bearings and years of movement may take a toll on their health, resulting in wobbly rollers. If you find nothing wrong with rollers, lubrication may be the solution. However, worn out, old rollers must be immediately replaced and while you are at it go for nylon rollers that come with sealed, protected bearings that have a longer life. Nylon rollers are also quieter than metal rollers and low maintenance as they don’t require periodic lubrication.

We recommend that you call a garage door professional to replace the rollers. Doing this on your own can be very dangerous, especially replacing the rollers located in the bottom section.

3. Check the hinges

Hinges may become worn out with time causing obnoxious screeching or grinding sounds during garage door operation. Lubricating the hinges with WD-40 may do the trick. However, if you identify a cracked hinge, replace it immediately. It is not only important to reduce the noise factor but also for safety purposes.

4. Inspect the garage door opener and chain

Your garage door opener can also be a reason behind the noise your garage door is making. Either a loud motor or a loose garage door opener chain may contribute to loud sounds. Tighten the chain as per instructions in your garage opener owner’s manual. You may also want to spray the end of the garage door track and chain with a high quality silicone-based lubricant. Remember not to use oil or grease on the garage door track.

5. Lubricate the moving parts

Lubricate the hinges, roller bearings and springs with a high quality spray. Stay clear of oil, grease or lithium grease spray. These types of lubricants accumulate on the surface points, gathering dust and gritand causing the surfaces to harden. Make sure you lubricate all the moving parts every six months for better results. It will not only minimize usual wear and tear but also keep the door on a silent mode.