How to Fix Noisy Garage Doors

A noisy garage door is frustrating with its clattering and banging, making it inconvenient to access your garage. Not only is it annoying to deal with when you need to get to your car or items stored in your garage, but it can be so loud that it disrupts your family and even your neighbours. So what can you do when you have a noisy garage door?

This article explores possible solutions for fixing noisy garage doors. For personalised advice, contact our team at PDS Garage Doors today.

What Causes a Noisy Garage Door?

With all of the mechanics involved, as well as the door’s material itself, garage doors can become noisy for many reasons. These include:

• Loose hardware– Components like nuts, bolts, and brackets can become loose, leading to rattling noises
• Worn-out rollers– Dust and debris can get into the tracks that the rollers use to open and close the door, causing them to scrape and grind
• Lack of lubrication– Many parts of a garage door like the rollers, hinges, and tracks require lubrication to keep things running smoothly
• Misaligned door– An uneven door can lead to scraping when you open and close it, making banging noises
• Old springs– Stretched-out or worn-out springs can become noisy, however, keep in mind that these elements are dangerous to work with and should only be addressed by a professional
• Bent tracks– Loose screws, worn-out rollers, or damage to your door can cause tracks to bend and make your door difficult to open and close
• Damaged rubber strip– The rubber strip at the bottom of the door provides insulation and prevents debris from getting in, but over time this can become worn and lead to loud noises when you close the door

DIY Noisy Garage Door Solutions

In some cases, you may be able to use at-home solutions to address your noisy garage door. Not every problem can be addressed with DIY fixes, but depending on the problem, you may want to try:

1. Checking for Damage and Debris

Inspect the tracks, rollers, and brackets for damage, dirt, and general wear and tear. Blockages such as small pebbles, leaves, and debris can also cause problems, so inspect these areas thoroughly. You can polish the tracks with methylated spirits if needed. If you have nylon rollers look out for cracks and chips, and if you have steel rollers, check for any bends.

2. Checking the Lubricant

Check the lubricant on the hinges, chains, rollers, pins, and arms, and add more lubricant if necessary. Ensure you don’t over-lubricate, and wipe off any excess as you go.

3. Checking the Hardware

Inspect the nuts, bolts, and hinges to see if they’re loose. If they are, tighten them (being careful not to overtighten) or replace them if necessary.

4. Checking the Balance, Limit, and Force

Step back and look at your garage door to see if it’s off-balance. If it’s leaning to one side, this is a sign your garage door is off-balance and needs to be looked at by a professional.

5. Checking the Springs

Worn-out tension and torsion springs can cause your garage door to not open smoothly. If these springs are stretched beyond their capacities, your garage door needs help from a garage door technician.

When it’s Time to Call in the Professionals

While small jobs like lubricating hinges and removing dirt and debris from the tracks can be quick DIY fixes, there are some problems that only a garage door servicing professional should address.

If you have any problems with the springs, this is something only an experienced garage door professional should work on. Don’t attempt to adjust or replace garage door springs yourself, as they can be very dangerous and lead to serious injury.

Rebalancing a garage door also requires a professional, as this typically means there’s a problem with the springs or opener. Bent tracks or doors that jump off the tracks should always be dealt with by a professional as well.

When in Doubt, Call the Experts

Whether your garage door is noisy due to a small problem that a replacement part can fix or a larger issue that requires a replacement, we can help. At PDS Garage Doors we’ve been helping people in Epping and surrounding areas for many years, ensuring garage doors of all sizes and styles are safe and quiet. To address any problems you have with your garage door, contact us today.

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