Noisy garage doors can be caused by all of the many springs, pulleys and cables that make the opening system work. From needing anti-vibration pads or worn rollers, loose hardware or squeaky parts that need lubricated, there are a myriad of different problems that may arise with your garage door. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to fix your noisy garage door, here are some tips.
Step One: Check, Tighten, and Lubricate all parts of the Opening System
Use a socket wrench to tighten the nuts on the track system, as well as tighten the opener chain (procedures can usually be found in the door manual), and lubricate the opener track and all the hinges, pivot points, springs, and torsion bar bearings. This should be done regularly, every six to twelve months.
Instead of using things like grease or oil, you should use a specialized garage door lubricant, which lubricates all the parts without attracting dirt or unwanted residue. Check all the rollers on the opening system. Worn rollers are one of the most common problems for noisy garage doors, and are usually a quick fix. Nylon and steel rollers are available online, at hardware stores and at garage door retailers. The roller bearings may also need to just be lubricated. Worn hinges are less common, however they can occur after some years.
Step Two: Type of Opener and Door Balance
You’ll need to figure out which type of garage door opener you happen to have, a screw, chain, or belt drive. To test the balance of the door, pull the cord that opens and closes the door manually, and raise the door halfway before releasing it. If the system is unbalanced the door should fall, however stable garage doors should remain halfway open at that point.
Step Three: Types of Noises
Identifying the types of noises your garage door system is making can be very important in determining what may be wrong with it. For instance, a loud ticking noise may indicate the rollers or the bearing within the pulley have worn away. A grating noise is usually the cause of the coils in the garage door springs becoming bent out of shape and knocking against each other.
Step Four: Professional Help
Although some noises and problems with a garage door have easy solutions that can be done without help or large expenditures, sometimes that is not the case. Torsion springs and bearings may require professional help to replace. If hinges on the opening system seem to be squeaking, it may just need to be lubricated; however if it seems to be making a grinding noise, it most likely needs replaced. This usually requires the help of a professional as well. Refer to your garage door manual to see if the identified problem needs to be repaired by a professional.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call your local garage door repair company.
