The grinding screech sound of a garage door is a serious headache for homeowners. This sound is not just annoying; it’s the indication that your garage door needs immediate attention to resolve the issues. What should you do with a noisy garage door? The garage door is a mechanical item. Like other mechanical items, garage doors often require lubrication, cleaning, and hardware repairs. This is a very common problem; hence, you are opening and closing the garage doors 100 times a day, and these operations make them wearable and tearable. But ignoring these sounds can lead to more expensive problems. Let’s see what to do when your garage door makes noise and what the primary checking process is. First, start by exploring the cause of the garage door’s noises.
Why Is Your Garage Door Making Noise?
1. Lack of Lubrication
This is the very cause of garage door noises. Have you ever thought about why garage doors make noise? Dry metal often causes cranking and grinding sounds when it lacks lubrication. It starts to grind against itself and produce noise.
How to fix a noisy garage door when its cause is lack of lubrication?
Apply a specific lubrication that is compatible with your hinge metal. Garage-specific lubricants for all the moving parts are going to be the best solution. Avoid using WD-40. There are many misconceptions about WD-40; it is a cleaner, not a lubricant.
Apply the lubrication to the following parts.
- Hinges
- Roller stems
- Bearing plates
- Torsion springs
- Arm bar and lock
Try to lubricate the garage door every 6 months to maintain the silent and smooth movements of the door.
2. Worn-Out Rollers
Rollers can help your garage door glide along the tracks. Over time, the rollers have become cracked, rusted, and worn out, which also creates a rattling and grinding sound during any movement of the door. Inspect the rollers and identify if there are any signs of damage or tearing.
Solution:
Look for any indications of tears or damage. You have two solutions; one is replacing the worn or damaged rollers with the nylon rollers. Nylon rollers are better than standard metal rollers and require much less maintenance than the metal rollers. Intermediate-level expertise is required to identify the problem. If you are thinking of replacing the rollers with the new nylon rollers, then you must call the Steel City Garage Door experts to troubleshoot the issues.
3. Loose Nuts, Bolts, and Hinges
Loose nuts, bolts, and hinges are common hardware issues. Often can be the cause of a garage door makes loud noise. The garage door opens and closes thousands of times in a year. The vibrations can loosen up the hardware, leading to cracking and banging noises. How to identify this problem: the solution is very easy Regular visual inspections of the door can help identify errors and problematic areas. What do you need to do?
Solution:
If the troubled areas are easy to reach and have no complex mechanical system, you can try tightening the bolts and screws yourself. Check for loose bolts and screws on the hinges, brackets, and tracks. But when the place is inaccessible from your side, it’s better to call the Steel City Garage Doors experts to troubleshoot the issues professionally. Before conducting any inspections or performing any mechanical checks, unplug the garage door opener.
4. Misaligned or Bent Tracks
Misaligned and bent garage door tracks can cause the rollers to rub, scrape, and bang against the track. You can visually identify the error. If you find any misalignment signs, you can call the professional to deal with the problems. Since you cannot fix the misaligned and bent tracks with basic tools, you will need specialized tools from professionals.
Solution:
The professionals will follow some simple steps, including checking the tracks to determine if they are straight and properly aligned. In the next step, the professionals will gently tap any misaligned areas back into place using a rubber mallet. Ensure the tracks are parallel and the garage opening is clear. A professional will handle the repair if realignment proves ineffective or if the track sustains slight damage.
5. Damaged Springs
Garage door springs can carry lots of tension. Due to prolonged use, garage door springs can creak, pop, and wear out. Eventually the coils might snap together, causing a loud banging sound. Inspect the torsion and extension springs. If you hear any sounds of popping and find any gaps between the spring coils, they need to be replaced.
Solution:
It is advisable not to attempt repairing or replacing the door springs on your own. To change the door springs, you will need a more advanced understanding of mechanical systems. Door springs are risky components, especially when they are already installed in the door. The springs in the garage door opener are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury. So the best solution is to simply call the professionals to address the problems.
6. Old or Noisy Garage Door Opener
A noisy garage door is often caused by the garage door opener. Older chain drive models have a tendency to make a lot of noise. Only attempt self-lubrication if you are familiar with the opener chain and its location. If you are not a professional, you must seek assistance from service providers to resolve these issues.
Solution:
Noisy garage door opener issues can occur if your opener is using an older chain drive model. In particular, it can be noisier. If you leave the opener unchanged, it will significantly affect the garage door performance. The professionals will come to your location, identify the issues, and lubricate the opener chain using the appropriate lubricants. Tighten the mounting screws and secure any loose parts of the opener. A professional can also inspect your garage doors and recommend the best solution, whether you need to install a belt drive opener for smooth operations or not.
7. Door Balance Issues
The unbalanced garage door puts more strain on the opener and the other parts. That’s leading to unusual noises and the sounds of jerky movements. The best solution is to contact the professional garage door experts at Steel City Garage Doors, who can adjust the balance and check the spring tension of the door. Only professionals with the proper equipment can take this spring tension measurement.
Solution:
Before starting the repair projects, professionals will disconnect the opener and manually lift the door halfway. If it doesn’t stay in place, that indicates the door is in an unbalanced situation and the spring needs to be adjusted.
How Can Steel City Garage Door Experts Help You?
The minor noises can be fixed with simple maintenance steps. But do not attempt any DIY process unless you have the professional skills necessary to address the issues. Minor loose hinge issues can be taken care of by property owners, but there are certain severe problems that need immediate attention from the professional teams at Steel City Garage Doors.
Are you in Pittsburgh? Do not wait if you are already experiencing these types of trouble; just search for garage door services near me or garage door services in Pittsburgh. You will get Steel City Garage Doors address and contact details.
- You suspected the spring damage.
- When you hear a garage door grinding noise or your door jerks while operating it.
- You hear a loud bang and sudden drop of the door.
- Garage door hardware looks frayed, broken, and out of place.
- You are unsure of the source of the noises.
Steel City Garage Doors professionals are going to reach your place with proper equipment and closely investigate the problem to resolve the issues. You will get a clear quotation and list of works that need to be done along with the useful maintenance tips.
Don’t Ignore The Garage Door Sounds
A noisy garage door may appear to be a minor issue. However, if not properly addressed, it can quickly escalate into a significant problem. Ignoring these minor noises during garage door opening and closing can give you serious trouble and high monetary compensation. If you have any concerns about your garage door’s performance, call the experts to fix the issues and protect your property.
Loose hardware, worn-out rollers, dry hinges, and damaged springs can cause sudden noises from the garage door. First identifying the issues and addressing the root cause can prevent further damage to the garage door. The best solution is to contact the professional garage door experts at Steel City Garage Doors and ask for a simple quotation.
WD-40 is a cleaner designed to remove rust and other dirt, but it is not a long-lasting lubricant. To clean the garage door, specific silicone- and lithium-based lubricants are the best options because they reduce friction and eliminate squeaks more safely.
The garage door types and their core materials entirely determine the duration of this process. You need to apply the lubrication to the moving parts of the garage doors every 4 to 6 months to ensure smooth and quiet operation, and it will also extend the lifespan of the components.
Belt drive garage door openers are the quietest option. Unlike the chain drive models, they like to use a rubber belt that operates in a smooth way with minimal noise. This style of opener is ideal for the garages near bedrooms.
Mishandling the garage door springs, which are under high tension, can result in serious injuries. Always hire a professional technician for the repair and replacement of the torsion spring in your garage door.
