Every time you go to open it, you know it’s coming: Your garage door is like a high school heavy metal band that’s so out of tune. You’re driving the neighbors crazy. The hair on your arms stands up. Even your cat can’t take it anymore.
Noisy garage doors are common, but no worries. Most of the time, they are completely repairable. You don’t need to run out and install a new garage door just yet. Here is why your garage door may be so loud and annoying, and easy ways to fix it. Usually, it’s a fairly simple DIY repair that can be done with basic household tools.
There are a number of reasons for your noisy garage door, including:
- Loose parts (screws, nuts, bolts, belts, chain drives)
- Worn out parts (rollers, springs, hinges)
- Malfunctioning garage door opener
- Humidity
- Cold, dry climate
- Dry parts in need of lubrication
- Age of your garage door
- Age of your opener
How to Repair a Noisy Garage Door
If your door is rattling because of loose parts, this is a fairly simple garage door repair. Take a lug wrench and tighten down anything that will tighten — screws, nuts, bolts, etc.
Closely examine your rollers, hinges, and springs for signs of wear and tear. Rollers and hinges you might be able to replace yourself with a few good YouTube videos, but it never hurts to call a garage door repair professional. Springs, on the other hand, absolutely require the tools and expertise of an expert. These springs can be under incredible pressure and are extremely dangerous. Tread carefully.
If your garage door is malfunctioning beyond an electrical issue, you’ll need to call a professional. It may very well need to be replaced with a new opener. Garage door openers tend to wear out faster than the door itself. Fortunately, they are much cheaper — a few hundred, counting installation of the opener, as opposed to $1,000 or more for a brand new garage door.
It could be your garage door just needs oil. Always use an approved garage door lubricant — not WD40, which can cause the parts of your garage door to prematurely rust. Apply the oil with a brush to get in all the nooks and crannies. Wipe up any excess oil and avoid spills.
Of course if your garage door is loud because it’s old or the opener is worn out, you’ll just need to install a brand new door or opener. Garage doors and openers only have so many uses in them. Like anything else you own, eventually they’ll wear out and need replaced.
Why Ignoring Loud Garage Doors is Dangerous
It may be tempting to ignore a loud garage door and just go on with your life, but the door is trying to tell you something. The mechanical pieces are malfunctioning. And considering a door weighs hundreds of pounds and is used several times per day, you shouldn’t ignore it — especially if you’ve got kids or pets. Your family’s safety is at stake.
Got a problem? Give us a call. We do 24/7 garage door repair for the Sacramento area. We’ll come out anytime you need!