How to Fix a Noisy Garage Door

A noisy garage door can be incredibly irritating and may often be a telltale sign that something within your garage door unit is about to go wrong (or already has). Fortunately, it’s not all that uncommon for a noisy garage door to be caused by a minor issue that you can fix yourself for a few dollars and a little elbow grease. If you’re not that lucky, however, your noisy garage door may need the attention and expertise of an experienced garage door repair team. In this month’s blog post, we’ll explain how to identify the cause of your noisy garage door and how to go about fixing it.

Why is My Garage Door So Noisy?

The first step is to decide what kind of noise your garage door is making. Is it squeaking? Rattling? Banging? Scraping? Popping? Grinding? Vibrating? Yodeling? (Granted, we’ve never personally witnessed that last one, but you never know.) If you can do it safely, open and shut your door a few times while listening carefully to the sound and where it might be coming from. This step will be vital if it ends up being something you can fix on your own. And if you do end up needing professional assistance, the better you can describe the issue initially, the easier it will be for your repair team to fix.

NOTE: If you’re comparing your chain-driven garage door opener to your friend’s or neighbor’s belt-driven garage door opener and are concerned about the difference in volume, there’s likely no need to worry. Chain-driven garage door openers are simply louder than their belt-driven counterparts by design.

If that’s not the case, then here are a few of the more common conditions that can cause your garage door to be exceptionally noisy:

Poor Lubrication

A poorly lubricated garage door can be squeaky or sound like metal grinding against metal. Generally, this is not that big of a deal if you address it in a timely fashion. Your best bet here is to use a lithium or silicone-based lubricant designed for garage doors (we suggest Clopay Pro Lube) and apply it to the metal moving components of your door (rollers, bearings, hinges, springs, etc.). Resist the urge to use WD-40 as this is an anti-rust agent (not a lubricant) and may actually do more harm than good.

Loose Nuts or Bolts

If your garage door has loose nuts or bolts, you might hear a rattling sound with every cycle. To fix, simply grab an adjustable or socket wrench and a step ladder and check each bolt one at a time. Be careful not to overtighten as this can damage your garage door.

Loose Chain

If your garage door has a loose chain, you’re bound to hear the heavy chain slapping or bouncing off the door or rail. This is not terribly uncommon as garage door chains do tend to loosen over time due to constant vibrations. To fix, simply turn off your door’s power supply, disconnect the trolley to lower your garage door, and tighten the adjustment bolt. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you’ll want to consult with a professional.

Tight Tracks

Tight or bent tracks will produce some ear-piercing squeaks and you may notice some violent jolting or jumping as your garage door raises or lowers. If this is the case, you’ll want to put away the toolbox and call a professional to adjust and realign your tracks properly. Adjusting tracks yourself is a complicated and potentially dangerous process best left to the experts.

Spring Issues

If you hear a loud pop or series of pops as your garage door goes up and down, it could be a sign that your torsion spring is in need of adjustment or replacement. If you have a spring issue, your garage door may also tend to shake or jolt and may even fall should the spring give out. Fixing a spring issue (other than basic lubrication) does not fall under the DIY garage door repair umbrella and is 100% NOT something you’ll want to tackle on your own. Garage door springs are incredibly dangerous and should only be adjusted, removed, or installed by qualified garage door repair experts.

Unbalanced Door

If your door continues to squeak loudly with every cycle, and you’ve ruled out any lubrication issues, it could be a sign that your garage door is out of balance. What this means is that the weight of your garage door is not being evenly distributed during cycles which can cause added stress for your opener. As correcting this would involve altering the springs or the door itself, this is another instance in which you’ll need the assistance of a professional service.

Conclusion

Keep in mind, these are only a few of the possible scenarios that might cause a garage door to squeak, rattle, jolt, or grind. If you’re unable to identify the root of the sound, or just want professional confirmation and advice, it is never a bad idea to consult with a professional garage door repair service. A reputable service provider can help you identify the issue, explain the process involved in rectifying it, and provide you with maintenance tips or a maintenance plan to ensure your noisy garage door days are over for as long as possible.