Do you have a noisy garage door? Have you ever returned home late at night only to wince at the ear-splitting racket your garage door makes? Do you startle awake in the early morning, wondering, “Why do I have a loud garage door?”
When your garage door seems to have more in common with a thunderstorm than a door, it can be a significant source of frustration. You may need to start looking for garage door repair services. If you have an older system, you may wonder if there’s anything to do but eventually, replace it.
Fortunately, there are several ways to improve a noisy garage door, no matter the age of your unit. Here are a few solutions to try before calling for expert backup.
Tighten the Nuts and Bolts
Before you jump into more complex garage door troubleshooting solutions, starting with this essential step is always a good idea. Over time and with frequent use, the nuts and bolts that hold your garage door system together may loosen.
This can not only become the root cause of a loud garage door but also open you up to wear and tear or total malfunction if left unchecked.
Look around your garage door and tighten any loose nuts and bolts. Be sure not to over-tighten any component of your system.
Lubricate the Rollers, Springs, and Hinges
Oil can is used to improve the chain of the opener
This is the step most people’s minds jump to when considering how to fix a noisy garage door, and for a good reason: lubrication is often the easiest solution.
Regular lubrication can help protect adjoining components from wear and tear, ensuring your system runs smoothly every time.
The best lubricants for the job will be fast-acting and silicone- or lithium-based. With a standard, quiet garage door, you should expect to lubricate all moving parts of the door at least once per year for the best results.
However, if you’re trying to quiet a loud garage door, you may want to do so once every two months.
Ensure to pay close attention to the hinges, a noisy garage roller, and the springs, as these are the parts most likely to show signs of wear.
Remember to follow basic safety precautions, like disconnecting your door opener and wearing gloves.
Insulate Your Door
It’s common sense: the same material that can keep the rest of your home quiet works just as well in your garage. So while insulation won’t be part of the typical garage door installation process, it’s a simple task that can help reduce noise and cut down on your energy bills.
The project varies in cost, depending on the type of insulation you choose, and you can even purchase a garage door insulation kit to make your work easier. If you’re buying insulation separately, foam board and batt insulation are the best options. You’ll also want to match your insulation to the type of door you have.
Replace the Rollers and Springs
As noted above, the rollers and springs are two of the most likely culprits of a noisy, squeaky garage door. Replacing them can make a big difference if you want to decrease the noise.
Regarding your rollers, upgrading to durable, nylon-covered replacements is a good idea. With your springs, torsion springs are the way to go.
Note, however, that you should only opt for these repairs if you have relevant experience and are confident that you know what you’re doing.
For example, replacing your springs seems easy for a DIYer, but the job is often best left to a garage door repair company.
Replace the Bottom and Side Seals
Though most maintenance efforts focus on a garage door’s moving parts, the door seals can sometimes be responsible for loud garage door creaking noises. If they’re worn or old, or if you’ve noticed they don’t keep water and debris out as well as they should, it may be a sign that replacement would help.
Changing out the seals is easy to tackle on your own, though it’s essential to ensure you’re grabbing a reputable product for your threshold.
Use a Quieter Garage Door Opener
You might be surprised that some automatic garage door openers are far quieter than others.
A chain door opener, for example, tends to be louder than an opener that uses a belt as its moving mechanism.
Modern options can also help reduce vibration, leading to a much quieter door opening.
If you have an old or noisy garage door opener, upgrading to a newer model may be a good idea.
Get Regular Maintenance Checks
The easiest way to fix or avoid a loud garage door—and the hassle of fixing it on your own—is to get regular garage door maintenance checks.
With regular tune-ups from an experienced technician, you can trust that your garage door will offer a smooth and quiet performance.
Of course, it’s worth noting that a maintenance plan does more than reduce your door’s sound. It also checks your system’s vital components, including the wires and gears.
What’s more, proper maintenance can also help you avoid unexpected garage door repairs!
Let Us Fix Your Noisy Garage Door
If you’ve tried some of the steps above or don’t have the time to solve the issue independently, our team is here to help. We have a history of serving clients throughout the St. Louis area. As a result, our technicians can get your noisy garage door or loud garage door opener to offer a quieter, smoother performance every time.
We have deals, maintenance plans, and garage door repair to get your garage door back on track. To get your garage repaired, request a repair!
