Got a noisy garage door? This article covers seven tips for silencing it.
Lubricate all moving parts
A loud, squeaking noise could be due to friction on moving parts. If that is the case, then the best solution is to lubricate the moving parts with a suitable silicone-based lubricant. Please only use an oil meant for use on metal. Lubricate crucial components such as the springs, tracks, hinges, and rollers. If your garage door has a chain assembly, lubricate the chain.
Tighten all nuts and bolts
Another reason your garage could be making a lot of noise when opening or closing is that some parts are loose. Nuts and bolts tend to loosen over time due to vibration caused by moving vehicles and frequent garage door use. Inspect all the nuts and bolts to see if they need tightening. If so, use an adjustable wrench or a socket to tighten them. However, don’t tighten them too much. Leave a small allowance for expansion and contraction. Also, inspect the door opener chain. It usually makes a lot of noise when it is loose.
Add more buffers
Another way to reduce noise on your garage door is by adding more buffers. You can do this by adding more rubber pieces between the surface to act as a shock absorber. For instance, you can add a rubber piece between the door and bolts to help reduce friction. You can also use rubber to hang the motor from the mounting straps of your garage. However, you need to be careful not to damage the motor.
Install or replace the insulation strip
A garage door might be noisy because the insulation strip located below the door is worn out or missing. If that critical component is missing, then you will hear a loud noise when your door closes. You will also feel cold during the winter months because the insulation is compromised. If you realize that your insulation strip is missing or worn out, buy a new insulating strip and install it on your garage door
Replace roller and hinges
Roller and hinges usually wear out with time, making your garage door noisy when opening and closing. Rollers are generally located along the metal track and are likely to make noise as they move against another metal. The hinges also play a crucial role in flexing and bending for the smooth opening and closing of your garage door. When hinges wear out, they will start making noise. The best solution to his is replacing them with a brand new one.
Lubricate the garage door opener chain
Garage doors often make a lot of noise due to constant friction. If you realize that the noise is coming from the garage door opener, lubricate it with a suitable lubricant. Apply oil sparingly at the chain and pinions at each end. But if your opener is belt-driven, don’t apply anything on it. Lubricating the rubber opener chain will make your garage door quieter.
Buy a brand garage door
If you hear constant noise from a fairly old garage door, the best solution is to replace the old garage door with a brand new one. If you have done what you can to make the garage door quieter, but the door is still noisy, that could be a sign that your garage door has outlived its time and needs to be replaced with a brand new one.
Conclusion
Having a noisy garage door is annoying. Fortunately, a noisy garage door is not a permanent problem. It can be fixed by following the tips given above. If the solution to the problem involves doing a simple thing like lubricating the hinges rollers or track, then you should fix the problem on your own to make your garage door quieter. However, if the noise is caused by something serious such as a worn-out or broken spring, you should call an experienced garage door repair expert like Wayne Dalton to fix the problem.