10 Easy Fixes For a Noisy Garage Door!
Do you have a noisy garage door that squeaks, rattles and shrieks whenever you open or close it? Some people even claim that they can hear the garage door opening or closing in every corner of the house.
Usually, noisy garage doors are caused by loose hardware, rollers, and parts that require more lubrication. The best way to ensure that your garage door does not produce any noise is to regularly maintain its movable parts.
Having said that, here are 10 valuable tips you can use to fix a noisy garage door:
1. Tighten the nuts and bolts
Garage doors are held in place by bolts and nuts.
The frequent movement of the garage door when opening and closing causes vibrations. These vibrations can loosen them after a period time.
You need to inspect the nuts and bolts and establish whether they are loose or not. If they are loose, tighten them and ensure that everything is okay.
You should however, avoid over-tightening them because you might end up making it harder for you to open and close the door.
2. Inspect and remove soil particles from the track
If your garage door has a track, it is necessary to inspect the track and ensure that there are no pebbles or gravel that inhibit the movement of the door.
Sand and soil particles can be the reason why your garage door is noisy and not opening properly.
Cleaning and removing the soil particles from the track will allow the door to open and close more smoothly.
3. Replace Worn-out rollers
When inspecting the track ensure that you also check out the door rollers.
You can do this by carefully observing the rollers as they move when opening or closing the garage doors.
Identify broken rollers and those that are not moving at all.
Once you have identified them, it is time to replace them.
If your garage door uses metal rollers, consider replacing them with nylon rollers (available on Amazon) since they’re much quieter.
Another reason why I prefer nylon rollers is because they come with sealed bearings that keep away dirt and soil particles.
Having said that, if you do not know how to inspect and replace the rollers it is a good idea to seek the services of a professional. Especially if your door uses torsion springs that are mounted above the door.
Additionally, do not attempt to replace the bottom rollers as this can cause injury. The bottom rollers are always under tension and trying to fix them without proper equipment and knowledge can be dangerous.
4. Inspect and fix the door hinges
As the time passes, the garage door also ages.
This causes the hinges to start wearing out and this can cause loud grinding and screeching noise whenever you open or close the door.
Take your time to inspect the hinges for any signs of cracks.
If you identify hinges that have cracks or holes that are bigger than normal, then you need to replace them.
With the right equipment you can easily replace the hinges with new ones but if you cannot do this, seek professional help.
Lubricate all the moving parts
Garage doors use a number of moving parts to open and close.
These parts need to be maintained on a regular basis, because without lubrication there will be friction between them. This will cause a lot of noise when the parts move.
If your garage door uses torsion springs, spray the springs with a quality lubricant and allow the lubricant to flow down to the base of the springs. Carefully lubricate the inside of the track, around the rollers, and hinges.
Lubricate every moving part of the gate and this will eliminate the noise.
Use the right lubricant
Many homeowners make the mistake of using poor quality lubricants for their garage doors.
Poor quality lubricants will make it harder for the door to glide easily when you open and close it. They also wear off pretty quickly.
Instead of going for oil-repellent sprays, consider buying quality silicone or lithium spray that will provide a thicker coating and will last longer.
Some homeowners use motor oil as a lubricant, while others use proven, old-school options like WD-40 lithium spray (available on Amazon).
5. Check the garage door openers
You might think the noise comes from the hinges, track or the rollers. But door openers can also cause quite a racket.
A noisy motor could be a sign that your garage door opener needs a new motor.
Carefully inspect the rail assembly on the opener.
If your garage door uses a metal chain, you should check it out as well. Maybe it is loose or needs lubrication to prevent it from rattling against the rail when it opens it.
A door opener with a belt-drive operator causes the least amount of noise. Therefore, consider replacing your old garage door opener with a belt-driven operating one to nip the problem in the bud.
6. Inspect and readjust your garage door locks
Misalignment of the locking bars of your garage door can also be the cause of the noise.
Checking and readjusting the locking system can fix this the problem.
Start by observing how the lock bar hits the track. If the lock is not catching as it should and it produces noise in the process, you should consider tightening the bolts and the screws to align it accordingly.
If the locks are damaged, you have two options:
- ask a professional to fix the lock problem
- get new ones
7. Replace missing or worn-out insulation strip
Most garage doors come with an insulation strip at the bottom of the door. This insulation strip is installed to ensure that the door closes properly and does not produce noise when it’s being closed.
If you notice that your garage door has a missing or worn-out insulation strip, you should replace it with a new one. The rubber insulation will act as a buffer between the door and the rail. The rubber will absorb the vibrations and will ensure that the door opens and closes quietly.
Additionally, the rubber buffer will prevent the door from banging when it’s closed using too much force.
When you’re buying, measure the length of your garage door and make sure that the strip has some free inches to allow shrinkage during installation.
I use an inexpensive rubber insulation strip designed specifically for garage doors.
8. Check the springs
Is your garage door hitting the floor too hard?
This can happen because of old and worn-out springs. With time the springs can become loose and “jumpy”.
It is important to emphasize that spring work is usually done by professionals.
However, if you have the right tools and experience you can also do it yourself.
Garage doors use two kinds of spring mechanism to allow the lifting and lowering of the door:
- the extension springs are positioned above the upper tracks
- the torsion springs are usually attached to the header above the closed door
To ensure that they operate optimally, you should lubricate the springs regularly during your normal garage door maintenance routine.
9. Carry out regular maintenance practice
Do not wait for your garage door to start producing noises for you to realize that it’s time to fix it.
By carrying out regular maintenance like lubricating and cleaning the track, you will ensure that your garage door serves you well for years to come.
You do not need special training to maintain your garage door.
All you need is a quality lubricant and a few tools that will enable you to thoroughly clean the track and apply the lubricant evenly.
10. Call a professional
Certain garage doors are complicated in nature. They use torsion and extension spring mechanisms to open and close while others use simple hinges.
If your garage door seems a bit complicated for you to fix the noise, it is a good idea to seek professional help. Apart from sorting out the problem, the expert will give you advice on how to maintain your garage door and prevent future noise problems.
Having said that, fixing a noisy garage door is something you can actually do on your own for the most part, with a few tips here and there. The process can take you a few minutes to complete if it’s something that does not require replacement or installation of complicated parts.
However, if you do not have any idea on how to do it yourself, simply call a professional to come and fix it for you. It might be expensive, but it pays off in the long run.
