Garage Doors Repair 101: How to Quiet a Noisy Door

Noisy garage doors are no picnic. The good news is they are fairly easy to repair — as far as garage door repairs go. In most cases, all it requires is a can of garage door lubricant spray and a wrench to snugly tighten any loose bolts, and your problem is resolved. By silencing that bothersome noise, you can ensure a peaceful neighborhood and impress anyone with your impressive DIY garage door repair abilities. There’s no need to mention how straightforward it was; let your garage door speak for itself.

Why is Your Garage Door Noisy? 

Before you participate in a DIY repair, it’s key to note why exactly you’re repairing your door. This can help you understand garage doors more, which in turn can help you impart your knowledge onto others. 

Squeaking Sounds: If your garage door emits squeaking noises, there’s a good chance that something has come loose, possibly the hinges or rollers. Identifying the source of the squeak is the first step in remedying this issue. Oftentimes, it’s a matter of tightening loose components.

Stuttering and Shaking: When your overhead door stutters and shakes during operation, it’s typically a sign that the moving parts are in dire need of lubrication. Proper lubrication can restore the smooth and quiet operation of your door. Additionally, if certain key components are loose, it’s essential to address that as well to prevent unnecessary noise.

General Maintenance: In many cases, roll-up doors become noisy due to a lack of general maintenance. Over time, wear and tear can lead to loose parts and increased friction, resulting in noise. Regular maintenance can go a long way in preventing such issues.

Aging Parts: Finally, if your garage door is quite old and its components have endured extensive wear, it might be time for replacements or repairs. Aging parts are more prone to producing noise, and in such cases, a more comprehensive repair may be necessary.

As mentioned, addressing your garage door’s noise problem can often be a straightforward task. It doesn’t usually need many minimal tools and is a low effort DIY repair. So, grab your wrench and get ready to enjoy a quieter garage door that operates smoothly. 

Tighten Any and All Loose Garage Door Components

To begin this simply garage door repair, take a deep socket ratchet wrench and tighten down all loose parts on your garage door (especially the bolts that attach the brackets). While you’re at it, look for any worn or damaged garage door parts like your rollers, brackets, etc. Keep an eye out for garage door parts that have rusted – they’ll need to be replaced soon to mitigate any costly repairs. Most garage doors have unsealed bearings that will self-destruct as time takes its course. These you’ll want to replace as well.

You might want to replace your rollers with nylon alternatives. These are a little more expensive than steel but they are a much quieter option. It’s well worth it — especially if your door is near a living room or bedroom, or if the neighbors are sensitive. Even if your rollers aren’t the cause of the noise your garage door is making, they’re not a bad thing to upgrade while you’re doing other work.

If you notice an oblong hole on the hinge, you’ll want to replace it. While some movement is fine in a hinge, too much makes your garage door noisy and can cause other parts to wear out faster. Gray dust and metal filings are other signs it’s time to replace the hinge.

If you’re a garage door novice or a DIY hero, make it a point to leave door spring repair to the experts. Trying to repair a door spring without experience can lead to the door falling, which can lead to serious damage. That’s not to mention the tension that the spring is under, which could result in personal injury.  Stick your local garage door repair services when it comes to your spring – you’ll thank us later. There are plenty of videos online of the damage that garage door springs deal when they fail. Door springs are a terrifying force to be reckoned with.

Lubricate Your Door on A Regular Basis

Next, go over every moving part with a garage door lubricant. Never use WD40 on your garage door. WD40 is a solvent, not a lubricant and it will cause your garage door to rust prematurely. A lithium grease or silicone lubricant spray will work best, but you can always use a paint brush to get in all the nooks and crannies. You can find lubricants at the hardware store specifically made for garage doors. 

This is a garage door repair you really should do every 3 months or so. You’ll notice the results in both how it sounds and how smoothly it operates. This garage door repair only takes 30 minutes.

Clean Any Stuck Debris in The Garage Door Components

After lubricating any moving parts, you should also clean your garage door’s parts. It’s not uncommon for small objects like stones, dried leaves, or dead bugs to find their way into various components of your garage door system. When this happens, it can lead to increased friction each time the door is raised or lowered. To maintain a smoothly operating and noise-free garage door, do a quick inspection of all parts and remove any debris that may have accumulated.

If Your Garage Door is Still Making Noise, Check the Opener

If you’ve tried lubricating the garage door’s moving parts and tightened any parts that feel loose and find still yourself with a loud door, don’t feel defeated. If your overhead door opener uses a chain and the noise is similar to a rattling, there’s a strong chance that it will be need to replaced or repaired by a garage door service. If you hear a popping sound, your torsion spring is no longer functioning as it should and has likely snapped. As any garage door novice should know, the spring is only to be touched by experts.

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