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NOISY GARAGE DOOR? 5 POSSIBLE CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

If you are like many homeowners, you would like your garage door to operate quietly so your entire family is not disturbed when someone is entering or exiting the garage. However, some garage door openers are noisier than others, and many garage door problems can cause your door to produce excess noise when opening and closing.

Read on to learn about five causes of a noisy garage door and how to solve these problems.

1. Chain Drive Garage Door Opener

While there are several garage door opener types on the market today, most homeowners have either belt-drive or chain-drive openers. Chain-drive openers tend to make much more noise when operating than belt-drive openers do.

While a belt-drive opener uses a rubber belt to open the garage door, a chain-drive opener uses a chain. A rubber belt makes little noise as it runs through the metal garage door assembly, while a metal chain tends to make more noise as it rubs and clanks against metal door components. If the chain is too loose, it will make even more noise than a properly tightened chain.

If your garage door has a chain-drive opener, first have a garage door expert determine if tightening the chain can quiet the door opener somewhat. If the chain is already adjusted to its proper tension level, then you may need to replace your chain-drive opener with a belt-drive model to obtain quieter garage door opener performance.

2. Worn Rollers

Another common cause of a noisy garage door is worn door rollers. These rollers are attached to the sides of your garage door, and they sit inside of your garage door track. They help guide the door along the track smoothly when it is being opened or closed.

When rollers are reaching the end of their lifespan, they not only tend to make more noise during operation, but they can also place stress on your garage door opener that causes it to wear out prematurely.

You can eliminate excess roller noise and help prevent premature replacement of your garage door opener by simply having these rollers replaced. Plastic and steel rollers without ball bearings typically need replacement every few years, while nylon rollers and steel rollers with ball bearings can stay in good condition for longer before a replacement is needed.

If you currently have plastic or steel rollers, replace them with nylon rollers. Nylon rollers operate more quietly than all other roller types.

3. Vibrating Door Opener 

While it is not uncommon for a garage door opener to vibrate slightly as it is opening or closing a garage door, this vibration typically does not cause excess garage door noise if the opener is located several inches below the garage ceiling. However, if you had to install your opener very close to your garage ceiling due to a low ceiling height that could not accommodate these several inches of clearance, then your opener may rattle against the ceiling as it vibrates.

You can solve this problem by having a garage door expert install anti-vibration pads that lie between your garage door opener and the ceiling above it. Your opener will then vibrates against these soft pads instead of your hard garage ceiling, potentially reducing vibration noise greatly.

However, if your garage door opener vibrates excessively, then that is a sign that it may not have been installed properly. A garage door expert can re-install it properly to eliminate this excess vibration.

4. Lack of Proper Lubrication

Many garage door components require periodic application of lubrication to keep them operating smoothly and quietly. Ideally, you should lubricate all moving garage door components every six months to prevent excess noise that can occur when metal components move and rub against each other.

The most important garage door components to lubricate on a regular basis include your door track, all hinges, roller bearings, and springs. Always use a lubricant made specifically for garage door use, because these lubricants are made to attract less dirt and debris that can hinder smooth movement of garage door components than some other lubricant types.

Have your garage door expert lubricate these door components during your annual inspection.

5. Loose Door Nuts and Bolts

As you open and close your garage door several times a day over an extended period of time, door nuts and bolts can gradually become loose. When the nuts and bolts that hold door hinges, bearings, and other important hardware in place loosen, these components can shake and rattle as the door opens and closes, producing excess noise.

A garage door expert tightens loose garage door nuts and bolts when performing annual garage door inspection and maintenance. Not only can these loose connections lead to excess garage door noise, but they also make your garage door less safe.

If your garage door does not operate as quietly as you would like it to, then now you know five possible causes of this excess noise and their solutions. Contact the garage door experts at Shank Door for garage door opener replacement, garage door maintenance, and needed garage door repairs today.

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