Not many garage-based doors operate silently, but a very noisy garage door spells trouble. When your system sounds louder than usual, it might be a sign of a problem—especially for a new garage door. Unfortunately, there are many different reasons for a noisy door, which makes troubleshooting a challenge.
As the leading provider of garage door repair services in Vacaville and the surrounding areas, we know all the possible ways to make a garage door quieter. This article covers some of the solutions you need to keep your garage door running smoothly.
14 Common Causes Of A Noisy Garage Door
Here are different types of garage door noises and their possible causes.
Straining. A straining door mechanism often comes with a broken motor in the garage door opener. It could also signify an inadequate power supply to the door.
Banging. A banging sound often means a faulty garage door panel or a door in the garage that has dislodged from its track.
Scraping. An unbalanced garage door will emit a loud scraping sound as some part of the door scrapes against your house walls, ceiling, or floor.
Rattling. A garage door rattles when loose bolts, nuts, or metal parts need lubrication. A door may also have a loose chain or support rails.
Squeaking. A loose roller or hinge will cause a squeaking sound as you open and close your garage door.
Rumbling. A rumbling sound from your garage door signifies a loosened spring or coil tension issue.
Clinking. If rust builds up, you will hear clinks as it forces spring coils to rub together while the garage door moves. Excessive rust buildup is also a safety hazard.
Excessively loud noises. Is the garage door very loud during operation? Are there no obvious signs of malfunction? You likely have poor insulation or soundproofing issues.
Rubbing. Your garage door will rub when the tracks are bent, too tight, or need realignment.
Popping. If you hear popping sounds, it may indicate snapped torsion springs on your garage door.
Grinding. A garage door grinding noise often indicates a loose roller or hinge. A stripped-out or improperly installed trolley may also cause grinding sounds.
Squealing. Squeals from a garage door often signify a lack of lubrication in moving parts. However, an off-track door may also sound similar.
Vibrating. A vibrating sound typically signifies loose bolts and nuts around the track. Damaged or poorly lubricated rollers will also vibrate.
Slapping. Have you heard that distinct slapping sound from noisy garage doors? It often comes from a loose garage door opener chain, as the door’s chain hits the chain drive system enclosure.
Home-Based Solutions To A Loud Garage Door
As you can see, there are many reasons homeowners might hear loud sounds while a garage door opens or closes. If the problem does not require technical proficiency, you could attempt to deal with the noisy garage door in several ways. However, be sure to adhere to safety precautions, including the following:
- Disengage the automatic setting before you disconnect the garage door from a power source.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands from scratches and bruises.
Some DIY solutions to try for the noises the garage door makes include the following:
Tighten loose nuts and bolts
Did you know that you can correct vibrating, squealing, or squeaking garage door sounds by tightening the nuts and bolts along the track? Use a wrench and a screwdriver. Don’t make them too tight if you want to avoid stripping the lag screw holes.
Lubricate the garage door rollers
Garage door noise includes vibrating sounds that occur when operating your garage door on rusted metal garage door rollers. Lubricating the rollers and the garage door hinges around them can eliminate these issues. Use garage door lube from a local hardware store or manufacturer.
If you live in a high-humidity environment, consider switching from metal rollers to nylon rollers. Nylon rollers are less likely to cause jerky door movements even as they start to age. However, the replacement process needs professional expertise.
Lubricate the extension and torsion springs
Does your garage’s doors have broken torsion and extension springs? Clear the area around the garage door immediately and call a professional.
Springs in need of lubrication are common causes of noise for many garage doors. If the springs are intact, you could use any garage door lube to eliminate noise. However, be careful while touching the springs to avoid accidents.
Check the garage door opener
The garage door opener may be at fault if you can’t find any noise source on the door itself. For example, a loose chain or belt in the opener causes slapping or rattling sounds. In this case, call a professional—the chain will eventually wear out, leading to more noise and a complete system breakdown.
When To Call The Professionals
We recommend leaving serious garage door damage to professionals, including misalignment, torsion spring breaks, and so on. You might have to do more than tighten nuts and lubricate joints to repair or replace worn rollers, fix a damaged belt drive or garage door opener chain, and correct bent tracks. You will also need professional help if the loud noise is due to improper installation.
Our technician will evaluate the source of the strange noises and might do the following:
- Remove hinges
- Check for metal filings in key areas
- Change the socket set
- Realign the top and bottom bracket and more
A professional garage door technician will repair these components safely, whereas attempting it yourself may lead to serious injury or other damage.
Schedule A Garage Door Tune-Up Today
Is your garage door still noisy despite your best efforts? Our team can help, including having to repair or replace the belt drive and worn rollers, tighten all the nuts around loose parts, and more.
Why risk serious injury or property damage? Ask us about our convenient garage door maintenance schedule or learn how to lubricate your garage door to keep it working as quietly as possible.
Say goodbye to that noisy garage door—call R&S Erection of Vallejo, Inc. at (707) 644-5537 today for your garage door tune-up in Napa and Solano County, CA.
