If you have living space above or beside your garage, you know a noisy garage door is a major annoyance. But what causes a noisy garage door, and how can you fix it? Read below to learn the top reasons for a noisy garage door and how a few simple maintenance or replacement tips can restore peace to your garage.
What Causes a Noisy Garage Door?
The Problem – Poorly Lubricated Parts
Poor lubrication is the number one cause of a noisy garage door. The metal parts corrode and rust without regular lubrication, causing a rattling, clinking, or grinding sound. Importantly, your springs, hinges, and cables need regular lubrication to have a quiet garage door.
The Solution – Lubricate All Moving Parts
To prevent the rust and corrosion that cause a noisy garage door, we recommend using silicone spray lubricant on your garage door parts every six months to one year. Focus on the roller shafts, hinges, and springs, as these are the parts that are most susceptible to rust, wear, and tear. Regular lubrication also extends the life of garage door parts, giving you a long-lasting garage door!
The Problem – Loose Nuts and Bolts
Do you hear a rattling or vibrating sound as your garage door operates? Then you likely have loose nuts and bolts. Nuts, bolts, and screws naturally loosen over time as your garage door operates daily. Loose parts may also be the result of improper garage door installation.
The Solution – Tighten Hinges, Screws, Nuts, and Bolts
Luckily, this is an easy fix! Use a wrench and socket to tighten all the hinges, screws, nuts, and bolts on your overhead door. However, do not overtighten the hardware because you could strip the lag or create too much tension between your garage door parts. Bear in mind that garage doors are made with more than 100 nuts, bolts, and screws, so it may a while to tighten each one.
The Problem – Off-Balance Garage Door
If you hear scraping or banging noises as your overhead door operates, you may have an off-balance garage door. Other signs of an off-balance garage door include:
- Your garage door has an uneven appearance or opens at an angle.
- Your garage door won’t open at all.
- Your garage door opens slowly.
Loose or broken springs, a malfunctioning opener, or a car accident may cause an off-balance, noisy garage door.
The Solution – Garage Door Balance Test
It is easy to test if your garage door is off-balance by disconnecting the opener from the door and then attempting to lift the garage door manually. If you lift it to waist height and it stays where it is, your garage door is balanced. However, if it falls down or comes up at an angle, you need a professional to restore your garage door balance for a quieter and safer garage door.
Other Ways to Make Your Garage Door Quieter
Invest in a Belt Drive or Wall Mount Garage Door Opener
Chain drive garage door openers are known for their noisy operation because they primarily operate on metal parts. If you hear a rattling or grinding noise as your garage door operates, it may be time to invest in a quiet garage door opener. We recommend belt drive or wall-mount garage door openers because they are quiet, long-lasting, and reliable.
Add Insulation to Your Garage Door
Do you hear rattling or shaking as your garage door goes up and down? Then, you may have a non-insulated or pan garage door. With only a single layer of steel sections, the metal panels rattle as the door operates. That’s why we recommend insulated garage doors to all our customers. A layer of insulation behind the steel panels reduces shaking and quiets your garage door’s operation.
Upgrade to Nylon Garage Door Rollers
Garage door rollers – especially ones made of plastic or steel – wear down over time and may even cause your garage door to come off track. Worn-out rollers create a squeaking or screeching sound, meaning they need lubrication or replacement. Upgrade to nylon garage door rollers to give you a quieter, longer-lasting garage door.
Let Us Help You Get a Quiet Garage Door!
Don’t let a noisy garage door disturb your home! Follow our simple garage door maintenance tips to get a smooth, quiet garage door. Not sure you can tackle these maintenance and repair projects yourself? Let Garage Door Enterprises in Chesapeake, VA help! We are a local garage door company with years of experience installing, repairing, and maintaining garage doors. We would love to help you get a long-lasting, quiet garage door. Contact us for more information!
