The garage door is usually not considered an integral part of the house because it is located outside. Its noise, however, can be quite annoying, especially since you will hear it every time you drive into or out of your home.
But why is it noisy in the first place? Sometimes the sound is part and parcel of the door—it’s how it works. However, when it becomes chronic or worsens, the noise may already indicate a problem.
The best way to deal with a problematic garage door is to get professional help. If it is automatic, you need a garage motor service for that.
But you can also consider the following solutions:
1. Lubricate Moving Parts
If your garage door opens silently but gets stuck during operation, lube its hinges with a silicone-based lubricant. Apply the same type of lubricant to the hinges, spring bars, and other garage door parts that are prone to noise when in use.
2. Replace Old Springs
Replace both springs if they are worn out or rusty since they can cause massive noise while operating your garage door. The easiest way is to bring the old springs to a hardware store for comparisons with new ones.
Remember, however, that you should replace them one at a time to not put stress on other components, which can result in broken parts. If you are not confident, get help.
A squeaky spring may be solved with molybdenum grease, which can be purchased at any hardware store. Apply molybdenum grease on the pin and clip of each end of the torsion bar spring using a lubricant gun.
3. Balance Tracks and Rollers
Rollers should be checked regularly for wear and tear because their spinning causes vibration, especially during rough weather conditions or when quickly closing the garage door. Tracks too should be checked for possible trouble spots such as bends and dents, which cause noise. Use a file to straighten any rough areas. Adjust the rollers if needed or replace them entirely.
4. Adjust Hardware Parts that Secure Garage Door Sections Together
If you have a tight fit between sections, it can cause a squeaking sound while operating your garage door. For minor adjustments, loosen the screws on topmost cabinet panels and adjust their spacing according to their natural position every time you close or open your garage door.
For more severe problems, tighten all hinges using an adjustable wrench so that they are equally spaced out in line with each other when you check them side by side with the opposite section of the garage door. Then install a roller track if necessary to secure the door panels together.
5. Adjust a Bent or Bowed Section of Your Garage Door
Bowed garage doors are usually caused by several factors, such as loose hinges and tracks, which may lead to noise when in use.
You should first determine where exactly the horizontal section of your garage door bows or becomes warped because fixing this problem will require different strategies accordingly. If, for example, your bowed area is between two rollers, then tighten them using a pair of adjustable pliers in a direction towards every corner of your garage door.
If it bows towards the ceiling of your garage, then tighten its roller tracks, which you can easily reach by standing on a ladder or a small platform.
If your bowed area is at the bottom section of your garage door, use a metal straightedge and measure from one corner to another to see whether you need to make adjustments along with its hinges and screws.
Once you’ve found the problem areas, use an adjustable wrench for this task until they are adjusted properly so that there won’t be any need for you to worry about noise anymore when operating your garage door.
6. Repaint Your Garage Door
Repainting is also helpful if it’s rusted or its low-quality paint is chipped off. To repaint, make sure to take the necessary safety measures by covering any surface that you do not want to be painted or damaged.
Place the gear. If it’s not small enough for one person to handle, have someone help you move it up and down so you can paint each side effectively. Also, place the other gears carefully, so they won’t get in the way when painting or accidentally hit them with your paints or rollers.
Remove the door’s malfunctioning parts if there are any present. If there are broken rollers, missing screws, fractured hinges, etc., remove these before commencing with the repainting.
Garage doors can make noises for a lot of reasons. By solving them, you will enjoy some peace at home and avoid more severe problems later.
