Noisy garage door issues like faulty springs and loose hardware happen every day. If your garage is next to your bedroom or living room, strange noises could disturb your household’s peace. Here are some common reasons for your garage making sounds and how to stop them.
Why Is My Garage Door Making Noises?
Typical reasons your garage door may make noises are old or rusted parts and poor lubrication. Keeping your garage door components well-oiled and regularly checking them can ensure they operate silently. While a trained technician can diagnose and fix the problem, you can take steps to identify the sounds and stop your garage door from making noise.
1. Old Age
If your garage door is old, the rollers can start to squeak. Since your rollers work every time you open and close your garage, checking them is vital. The rollers can be susceptible to rust, wear and tear, so when you hear grinding or squealing noises, it’s time to inspect them for damage.
The rollers attach to hinges along the sides of your garage door and run vertically to open and close the door smoothly. When your rollers are rusty and damaged, they can make loud noises, indicating they need more lubrication.
Lubricate your rollers by applying the grease to the parts where the rollers meet the hinges, then grease the entire roller. If you wish to replace them, choose between steel and nylon. Steel offers excellent durability, but it cannot resist rust. Nylon is also a quieter material in garage doors.
2. An Off-Balance Garage Door
If your garage door makes a banging noise when opening, it’s off-balance. The springs above your garage door are responsible for weight stability. They may make a popping sound if your garage door is slightly unhinged or hangs to one side. The pops indicate your springs are working hard to lift the misaligned areas of your door. Your belt or chain drives can also be the culprit. Chain drives often shake when opened if not lubricated or off-balance, causing rattling or slapping noises. If you have a belt drive, it can slip in extreme temperatures. This back-and-forth slipping can cause your garage door to scrape against your house.
To inspect an off-balance garage door, turn off the power, lift the door and slowly release it. Call a professional if it falls skewed from its position or abruptly slams shut. You can also switch off the power to your door opener and open your door halfway. Your springs are weak and damaged if the door hangs slightly to one side when you do this. The torsion and extension springs should sit flush and spring back. If not, they need professional intervention, as an off-balance garage door can be dangerous.
Damaged or worn-out springs require expert replacement because the springs hold up your garage door. If these fail, your door may fall and cause damage or injury. Doing this yourself can pose too much risk, making your garage unsafe to use over the long run.
3. Your Garage Door Opener Needs Replacing or Repair Work
A chain- or belt-drive opener can cause a rattling noise when not adequately lubricated. While chain-drive openers tend to be louder, your garage door will be noisy if it has to work hard due to an imbalance. Regularly examining your garage door motor is essential.
When you inspect your garage door motor for loud noises, first pull the manual release to move your garage door by hand and listen for any sounds. If there are none, move on to check your garage motor. Disconnect your garage door and press the open button on your remote control or the door control panel. If you have a belt drive garage opener, check for proper tension on the belt. Conversely, chain drive models should have adequate tension on the chain. If your screw-drive opener makes a rattling sound, this may indicate rust and tension.
You can lubricate your garage doors regularly to remedy any noise. The type of motor you have will serve as a guide for how you should lubricate the drive.
- Screw-drive models: Apply an even coat of white lithium grease. Start by gently squeezing the lubricant out while providing pressure on the rail. Ensure the grease absorbs into all the grooves.
- Chain- or belt-drive openers: For these models, you will need white lithium grease for the rail and belt and spray lubrication for the chain. Lubricating the rail is essential to avoid grinding noises. Apply the grease where the trolley meets the rail. For the chain or belt, spray or paint the grease all over it for optimal results.
If you detect other issues with your motor drive or your garage door still makes a loud noise, it’s best to consult a professional. An expert can prevent accidents in opening and closing your garage door.
4. Wear and Tear on the Rollers
When garage rollers struggle to spin around the shaft due to wear and tear, it’s time to replace them. Age and rust aren’t the only issues to be aware of. For instance, the rollers may begin to sound gritty and get locked in the shafts.
As you inspect your rollers, ensure they attach firmly to the shaft with no wiggle room. If you feel any gaps or unevenness, these can cause noises and are a sign to replace your rollers. Stand inside your garage and open the door. Do the rollers spin unencumbered on the shaft, opening and closing with relative ease and minimal silence? Also, check for damage like cracks, missing pieces or chunks of rubber.
To lessen any noise, lubricate your rollers every three to four months. Replace your rollers if they get locked and the lubrication doesn’t help with the grinding sound.
5. The Nuts and Bolts Have Loosened
Loose nuts and bolts that hold your garage door in place and keep it working correctly can make a screeching sound when you operate your garage door. Though small and overlooked, the parts that hold your garage door’s components together are significant. The importance of these components is especially evident if the hardware runs along your garage door’s track. The track is where the smooth operation of your garage door is noticeable. If components become loose or damaged, it can influence your garage door’s balance and alignment.
Look for loose nuts and bolts along the side of your garage door. If any parts are lax, the imbalance will produce a sound. Examine your hinges and the rollers on your shafts. Check if these parts fit tightly, with no missing or damaged parts.
Use a wrench and socket to tighten the bolts and nuts and ease any racketing noise. You want to strike a balance between screwing these tight enough for durability but loose for flexibility. When tightening loose components, use a level to ensure the hinges and roller shafts are straight.
6. Your Hinges Need Lubrication
Your garage door’s hinges serve as the muscle, keeping the rollers and shafts in place and allowing these to operate smoothly. Loose and damaged hinges can cause your garage door to squeak.
Inspect the hinges and rollers for rust or damage. When your hinges have excessive rust buildup, the roller shafts will have trouble moving from side to side. Look for loose or missing screws, bent hinges and any wear and tear. These are all factors to keep an eye on when you inspect your garage door hinges, as they will determine what you can do to fix any issues.
Repair and replace any broken hinges or missing bolts. If the hinge still looks sturdy but is missing a screw, fix this promptly. Replace the entire hinge in severe cases of damage or rust.
How to Avoid Garage Door Noises
Though wear and tear, damage and extreme weather conditions are unavoidable, you can take these steps to silence a loud garage door.
- Be cautious with your garage door: Accidents happen, but try to be careful around your garage door, especially when parking your car and backing out.
- Look after the rollers and replace them if necessary: Treat your rollers carefully, as they allow your door to open and close smoothly. Watch how they move alongside the tracks and call for repairs if you notice any bumps.
- Lubricate the springs regularly: Your garage door’s springs are one of its most crucial components. They keep your garage door balanced and in place. Lubricate them several times a year, and call a professional for a thorough inspection if you’re in any doubt.
- Inspect your garage door opener: When you notice sounds coming from your garage door or opener, review your owner’s manual. It should include a section on how to eliminate noises. For any other issues or more complicated maintenance, get expert help.
- Tighten loose bolts: Always keep an eye out for any loose nuts and bolts and tighten them immediately. Have the necessary tools for this job on hand.
- Lessen vibrations: You can sometimes trace noises from your garage door opener to your punch angle gauges. They should be secure without being too restricting, as you’ll want to keep some movement for when your garage door opens and closes. If there’s excessive wiggling when the door opens and closes, get an additional diagonal support punch angle for added fit. Install rubber disks to absorb vibrations.
- Check your weatherstripping: Cold and humid air in your garage could cause its door to bang when it closes. The humidity may also impact the susceptible components on your garage door. You can replace worn-out weatherstripping or purchase a good-quality strip if you don’t have one.
- Realign the locks: If the locks on your garage door won’t catch or make noises and bangs against the track, they’re misaligned. To fix this issue, unscrew the L-shaped plates, realign them with the holes and tighten the screws again.
- Regularly maintain your garage door: Routinely check your entire garage door. Look for loose parts, rust, damage, bending and foreign objects. Replace and repair any parts as needed and seek professional help when you have a damaged garage door motor or screws.
Trust AAA Garage Doors for a Noisy Garage Door
Several factors can lead to a loud garage door, and it’s crucial to look for the source of any new and unusual sounds. If you are careful and have the correct tools, you can conduct DIY inspections and minor fixes, but garage door springs and opening motors benefit from expert repair. Overall, thorough checks and maintenance ensure your garage door operates smoothly and quietly.
At AAA Garage Doors, we pride ourselves on repairing and replacing garage doors throughout the Midwest. Since 1994, our quality workmanship and attention to detail have given our customers exceptional value. Whether you’re in the market for a new door or need to repair a noisy garage door, our team of professionals has the solution for you. See why so many homeowners trust us for their garage door needs. Call us at 402-307-8013 or request a service online. Alternatively, you can request an estimate if you’re in the market for a new garage door or opener.
The post Garage Door Noise appeared first on AAA Garage Door, Inc. | Husker Door.