Why Your Garage Doors Make Noises

Even the quietest garage door will make some noise when moving. After all, garage doors consist of many parts, which make it rather impossible for you to hear absolutely nothing when the door moves. So far so good. The concerns start when the overhead door starts making noises out of the ordinary. The door might squeak, rattle and shriek when it goes up and down. And although this is often a good thing if you want to know when the garage door is opening, it's only bad news for its condition.

Garage door noise is often a (good) thing

Sometimes, the lack of regular maintenance lubrication is enough to make the garage door squeaky. But more often than not, noises are indications of more problems, which must be checked by a pro right away. It often takes minor garage door repair to fix a problem. Other times, the door might need more complex repairs. In either case, it's imperative to fix the problem to keep the door operational, safe and silent. So, sometimes noises are a good thing. They warn us about problems and tell us when our overhead door needs some care.

Which garage door parts are responsible for squeaky noises?

Overall, garage door parts become noisy when they are worn, loose, or damaged. But let us take a closer look.

Garage door rollers

Steel garage door rollers get rusty over the years. When they do, they make noises. Don't forget that they are housed in the tracks where they move up and down. What we have here is steel rolling on another steel surface. Lubrication is important because it comes in between the two surfaces as a protective layer. Lubes won't only protect the material but also keep parts from making noise. Since garage door tracks and rollers go together, the condition of the tracks also plays a role in the level of the noise. If the tracks are dented, the rollers will still make some noise every time they pass over the dented sections. If the garage door tracks are bent or slightly misaligned, the rollers will still have a hard time moving and make noises.

The solution? Apart from lubricating and cleaning the tracks, it's also helpful to get nylon rollers. That's if they are suitable for your garage door.

Garage door hinges

The hinges are the small parts, which keep the panels of sectional doors together. But there are also side hinges, which are connected with the rollers. So when the stem of the roller is rusty, the hinge will be affected too. If the pins holding the hinges secure are loose, the hinges will vibrate. And don't forget that hinges are still steel parts and so prone to rusting.

The solution? Lubricate the hinges and their pins. If you replace the rollers and the hinges are not in good condition, replace them too. Remember to tighten the pins if they get loose.

Garage door opener

If you have a chain drive garage door opener, it is expected to make some noise. Although DC motorized chain drive openers are not very loud, they are not silent either. But if the opener is louder than usual, it's often a problem with the chain or the unit.

The solution? Adjust and lubricate the chain. The rail will need lubrication too. Check the opener on the ceiling. If its fasteners are loose, it will vibrate. Tighten them. You can also put pads.

Fasteners

By fasteners we mean the hardware (pins, bolts, nuts, screws, etc.) which keeps the other parts secure. In time, they get loose. In turn, parts get loose. And so they vibrate. And thus they make noise.

The solution? Simply tighten and lubricate them. Don't over-tight them though. And remember that lubes will keep them from getting rusty in which case they will still make some noise.