Let’s face it; no one wants to come home to the grinding, churning, or rattling of a garage door. It’s obnoxious at best and occasionally frightening. Luckily, identifying the issue is a fairly straightforward process you may be able to repair yourself.
Keep reading to discover how to make your garage door quieter.
Why Your Garage Door is Noisy
A noisy garage door is one of 4 common garage door problems. Though it can be very annoying, the problem is rarely severe. Garage doors function as a part of a system of motorized pulleys, wheels, and tracks.
The most common reasons your garage door is making loud noise are:
- Parts need greasing
- Parts need tightening
- Rollers need replacing
- Opener needs stabilizing
How to Fix Noisy Garage Sounds
Before you get started, disconnect the opener to prevent accidental operation while you’re working on it. Enlist the help of a family member or friend and inspect your garage door and all the parts. If you identify anything that looks worn out, cracked, or covered in rust, they need replacing.
The sounds your door makes while operating are a telltale sign of the problem.
Loud squeaking or grinding? A silicone-based lubricant on the rollers or hinges as a part of preventative maintenance could get it purring like a kitten again. Hearing a rattling noise? It’s likely your nuts and bolts have loosened over time. Luckily a socket wrench can retighten these and solve the problem.
Important note: never retighten bolts around your springs.
If your garage door is still noisy after tightening bolts and adding lubricant, it’s time to call in a professional. It may be time to replace your springs, hinges, and rollers. For example, if you hear a popping noise as your door opens, that’s a clear indicator your springs are worn out.
3 Signs You Need Professional Garage Door Help
Try DIYing the following issues, and you could seriously injure yourself or someone else. Contact us at American Garage Door if your garage door has any of these red flags.
1. Mobility problems
If your garage door is frozen, challenging to move, bouncing off the track, or opens/closes too quickly, do not attempt to fix it yourself. Garage doors can weigh more than 130-350 lbs. Trying to fix a noisy door with mobility issues yourself can result in severe injury or death.
2. Bad springs and rollers
Garage door springs function under an extreme amount of tension as a part of the overall counterbalancing system. If your springs and rollers are broken or worn out, skip the DIY and call in a professional immediately. Worn or broken springs and rollers can cause a door to come off track or fall unexpectedly.
3. Your door needs replacing
Garage doors can last between 15 and 30 years. However, the opening system may only last 10 to 15 years. Its longevity depends on your environment, the door material, and regular maintenance. Choosing a wooden garage door, for example, in a Denver winter won’t last as long as an aluminum or steel door. If your door is pushing retirement, call in a professional for regular inspections.
Yes, most garage door fixes are easy, but there are times when making the repairs yourself just isn’t worth the risks. A professional can recommend the best parts for the most silent, attractive, and longest-lasting garage doors.
American Garage Door has served the Denver, CO area and greater community for more than 35 years. We’ve built our reputation entirely on word of mouth. So chances are, we’ve helped your neighbors too. Schedule maintenance and repair with American Garage Door. Contact us for services and repairs that keep you safe, saving you time and money on DIYs.
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