You might forgive a little squeaking and rumbling coming from your garage door, but unpleasant noises that occur when you open or close your garage door can be indications of more serious mechanical problems. Ignoring a noisy door for long enough can lead to increased wear and mechanical problems, some of which can be potentially dangerous. Fortunately, problems that cause a garage door to become noisy are usually repairable; here are some of the most common noise-causing problems, along with ways they can be fixed:
Keep it tight
In many cases a loud garage door is caused by nothing more than a few loose screws and nuts, which can lead to excessive vibration and loose, noisy fittings. Tighten any loose nuts or screws you find on your door's hardware, but make sure not to be overzealous -- over-tightening can strip screw holes and damage internal components.
Roller troubles
If your garage door makes a rumbling noise as it is opened or closed, the rollers that keep your door mobile may be excessively worn. If your door has metal rollers that have become worn or damaged, they can be replaced with new metal rollers quickly and easily, but consider choosing nylon or rubberised rollers instead. These rollers are much quieter and do not require lubrication to avoid squeaking, but they are generally more expensive than their metal counterparts.
In addition, rollers with unsealed bearings can easily corrode and stick due to dirt and grit getting into their exposed innards, and should be replaced before they become severely damaged, as this can cause a door to become firmly stuck in a half-open position. Choosing rollers with sealed bearings is a neat way to sidestep this problem, but these types of rollers are also more expensive than unsealed models.
In many cases, replacing rollers is a relatively simple task that you can do yourself. However, if you have a torsion spring-operated door, you should never attempt to replace the bottom rollers yourself -- these rollers are held under constant tension by the spring when the door is closed, and can cause serious damage and injury if loosened while still under tension. Have a professional garage door service repair and replace the rollers instead.
Loose chains
Automatic garage door openers often use chain drives to operate the door, and while these mechanisms are robust they can still become worn and loose over time. Older, worn chains can stick as they move, making a rhythmic banging or cracking sound as the door is operated and causing rollers to jar loudly against their tracks as they move. Applying lubrication to the chain/belt can be enough to solve minor noise problems, and you can tighten the chain yourself if it has loosened but is still fit for purpose. However, badly worn chains will generally need to be replaced, a complicated and messy procedure that may require professional assistance.
Share8 July 2016
Welcome! My name is Frances, and this is my first blog. Whether you found me through a Google search or were passed my link by a friend, I am so glad you found my blog. I plan to fill it with a range of commentary on the world of contracting and construction work, and I hope that you find my ideas compelling and creative. I am a dog trainer, but I have always loved the world of construction. I tend to work a lot on the weekends and evenings, when my clients are off work. As a result, I have a lot of time to write during the day, and I decided to create this blog. Thank you for reading.
