A squeaky, screechy garage door can sometimes be enough to drive you crazy, interrupting sleep, conversation, or peace and quiet. Garage doors systems are composed of many pieces that must work together to operate properly. If your garage door is loud every time you open or close it, take a look at the following components. One or more of them may need to be adjusted. The fix could be simpler than you think. Follow these tips, and before you know it, your noisy, obnoxious garage door will be a thing of the past.
Do a visual inspection.
Make sure there isn't anything, such as a rock or piece of debris, stuck anywhere along the door's tracks. Check all nuts all bolts to make sure they're tight. Inspect the rollers, tracks, cables, brackets, and hinges to see if anything looks worn down or broken. A worn out piece of hardware might need to be replaced.
Check the rollers.
Rollers, like their name suggests, should roll smoothly along the tracks as the door opens and closes. If your rollers are sliding instead, this could be the source of the noise. Check into alternative, quieter types of rollers, such as nylon or nylon-covered steel.
What type of garage door opener do you have?
Chain-drive openers are popular due to their affordability, but they can be noisy and vibrate while operating. If your garage door opener is getting old, consider replacing it with either a screw-drive or belt-drive opener. A screw drive is a midrange opener, typically quieter than a chain drive but noisier than a belt drive. If you have a bedroom or living space above or adjacent to your garage, a drive belt will run the most smoothly and quietly.
When was the last time you lubricated your garage door?
Add lubricant wherever metal touches metal—on hinges, springs, and rollers. We recommend lubricating parts when the garage door is open so the oil doesn't run onto your floor. Read our previous blog post about garage door preventive maintenance to learn how to do this correctly. This should be done twice a year.
Call your garage door technician.
If you can’t figure out why your garage door is making noise or don’t have the time to figure it out yourself, contact a local, trusted garage door technician to inspect and repair your system for you. If you live in the Des Moines area, call WD Door. On a garage door maintenance call, we will inspect your entire system, diagnose any problems, and present you with upfront, detailed pricing. Click below to request a garage door repair or replacement quote!
