How to Decrease the Noise Your Garage Door Makes

How to Reduce Garage Door Noise

When you are entering or exiting your home through the garage, does your garage door make noise? A loud garage door is annoying, and it can also be embarrassing, announcing your arrivals and departures to the entire neighborhood. Fortunately, most garage door noises are not too difficult to resolve.

Fix a Loud Garage Door Opener

A garage door opener makes it easy to access your garage, but when your opener is the source of the noise, it may be time for an upgrade. Garage door openers are typically chain driven, and these systems can become noisy as they age, especially if not properly maintained. You can call in a professional to fix the problem, but it might be a better idea to upgrade to a belt-driven model, which will have less noise and vibration. Belt-driven units need maintenance more often than chain-driven models, but they have quieter operations and last just as long.

Steps to Soundproof Noisy Garage Doors

What are some other reasons that garage doors make too much noise? Often, it’s something simple, but certain noises can indicate a major issue. Don’t ignore the noises your garage door makes, because some problems can cause the door to break, which could injure someone. Your first step in determining the issue is to do some troubleshooting, but if you have doubts about your ability to solve the problem, call in a professional immediately.

• Check your hardware. The mounting hardware that keeps your garage door operating smoothly can come loose, and this can cause the door to vibrate, rattle, and generally make noise. Take time to inspect the door, looking at every nut and bolt, and tighten anything that’s loose, being careful not to damage them by overtightening.
• Tend to your rollers. The garage door rollers, also called wheels, allow the garage door to travel along its tracks. When they begin to deteriorate, they can make a lot of noise, grinding and squealing. If you have metal rollers, you can lubricate them, and this may help. Switching to nylon rollers may solve your problem, because they are quieter and don’t require lubrication.
• Lubricate the springs and hinges. When garage door hinges wear out, they make screeching, grinding sounds. When springs are not working correctly, you get noise and a door that seems uneven or sticks shut. You can lubricate the springs and hinges, and that may help, but be careful not to touch these components, because they require professional adjustment and can be dangerous to repair.
• Tighten the opener’s belt or chain. If you don’t want to replace your garage door opener, but you think that’s what is making the noise, you can tighten the belt or chain and see if that resolves the issue.
• Insulate your garage. Garages are not known for being quiet, and if they are not insulated, noises in the garage can disturb people in the house. Increasing the insulation in your garage, and maybe finishing the space, can be helpful. You can also minimize some noise by replacing some of your garage door hardware, using rubber washers in place of metal, and putting rubber pads between the opener and its mounting hardware. 

A Few Extra Garage Door Lubrication Tips

Lubricating the various parts of your garage door every six months can prevent many problems. To properly handle this chore, wear protective gloves and goggles, and always use a silicone or lithium based spray lubricant made specifically for garage doors. Disconnect the garage door opener, to prevent accidents, and before you apply lubricant, wipe away old grease, dust, and debris, so that the lubricant will adhere to the surfaces.

Trust A1A Overhead Door for Quiet Garage Door Solutions

If you can’t seem to fix your noisy garage door, it’s time to ask for help from the experts at A1A Overhead Door Company. Our knowledgeable staff can help you determine exactly what’s needed and complete all necessary work efficiently and professionally, making sure you have a garage door operates effectively, no matter what happens to it. Family owned-and-operated, A1A Overhead Door serves the entire metro Jacksonville area. In fact, we even go as far as fifty miles into the outer counties. We are licensed and insured to cover both the client’s property and ours, and we’re proud to work with our clientele and will match or beat any competitor’s written estimate. For more information, you can call 904.579.1123 or contact us through our website.