Common Causes And Solutions For A Noisy Garage Door

Your garage door is probably something you don’t think about very often, but when it starts getting louder and making strange noises, it quickly becomes a source of anxiety. That’s because when it doesn’t sound like it should, it usually means it needs some maintenance. Thankfully, a noisy garage door doesn’t always require you to call a repair company. There are several things you can do on your own that might get it to operate in its normal, much quieter state. 

A garage door’s lifespan is measured in cycles. Opening and closing it represents one cycle. On average, they are used for about 1,500 cycles per year. All that movement and vibration can cause the screws, nuts, and bolts that hold together all the parts of your garage door to come loose, which often to parts moving out of their positions.

Securing the screws, nuts, and bolts in your brackets, hinges, tracks, and other garage door components will help keep it opening and closing smoothly, which will keep the noise down. You can tighten up the screws, nuts, and bolts yourself by using screwdrivers, wrenches, and sockets. If you are using a screw gun to tighten things up, be careful not to overtighten the hardware because that could lead to stripped screw holes and abnormal tweaking that could lead to bigger problems.

Rollers are the wheels that roll up and down when your garage door is opening or closing. The rollers on your door keep it connected to the tracks and are an essential component to keep working smoothly. The two most common signs that your rollers need maintenance are if you hear squeaking or grinding sounds. Garage doors commonly use metal rollers that fit inside a metal track. Metal on metal can cause loud noises, which can get even louder if there is an excess of rust, not enough lubrication, or other signs of wear. 

Sometimes, quickly adding lubricant to your rollers will fix a squeaky garage door, but if that doesn’t seem to end the problem, then it may be a deeper issue. If you hear grinding, it may mean your rollers have reached the end of their lifespan, and you may need to replace them.

Like other parts of your garage door, the rollers stop functioning after so many cycles. If your metal rollers have come to the point where they need replacement, we recommend switching to nylon rollers because they can dramatically reduce the noise. While lubricating the rollers is something you can do yourself, a replacement will require the expertise of a professional garage door repair company.

Most garage door openers use either torsion or extension springs, which are largely responsible for lifting your door smoothly and providing the tension that keeps the door in place. If your springs still function properly but seem to have gotten louder, start by lubricating them. This could reduce or eliminate the noises you’re hearing. The recommended lubricant for garage door springs is a silicone-based spray lubricant. Silicone-based lubricants are ideal because they can withstand high temperatures, repel moisture, and provide long-lasting lubrication.

If your spring system is broken or appears to be very worn out, then it’s time to replace them. Springs that are nearing the end of their lifespan can create extremely loud noises like rumbling, popping, or banging. Springs that continue to be used after they’re worn have been known to break and snap and, depending on the age/type of door, can cause the garage door to slam shut. Because this causes safety concern, this is one of those things you should not put off. Contact your local garage door spring replacement company for a service quote. Changing them yourself is never recommended, as it carries with it some serious risks.

You have probably noticed that there are hinges all over the panels of your garage door, which keep your door inside the tracks to ensure it opens and closes properly. Rust can build up in the hinges, and that can cause squeaking noises. Lubricating these moving parts will keep the noise down. If you notice that your hinges are badly worn, broken, or have a lot of rust, debris, or dust coating them, you might want to consider replacing them. New hinges will operate much quieter than older hinges that have years of wear and tear. This is another one of those parts that will need to be professional replaced; attempting to do so without the proper experience and equipment can cause the door to collapse.

If you have inspected all of the areas above and you still feel like your garage door is louder than it should be, the garage door opener may be the culprit. This is the most intricate piece of your system, and after years of working, sounds stemming from straining, vibrating, and rattling are not uncommon.

Every garage door opener motor has either a screw, chain, or belt that works with the springs to open and close the door. Belt and screw drives usually run much quieter than chain drives. If the chain or support rails are loose, you may hear rattling or excess vibration. If the motor itself is dying, it will often make noises that indicate clear signs of straining. If your motor is not supplying enough power to function correctly, you may very likely need your garage door opener replaced.

Regular maintenance will not only drastically extend the lifespan of all the parts of your garage door, but it will also prevent it from becoming noisy. The fact is, performing maintenance on your garage door is something that is easily overlooked. You can follow some easy DIY garage door maintenance tips a couple of times per year and schedule a more intricate preventative maintenance review with a specialist annually.

If you’re in the South Florida area, contact Door Gators for all your regular maintenance, repair, and new door needs.