When it comes to your vehicle, you probably often get used to small noises or quirks that don’t cause issues. The same may apply to your garage door, as well. If the door opener works the way it should, many put no thought into new noises. With a car, everyone knows there are maintenance tasks that are required no matter how well the vehicle drives, but this may not be common for garage doors.
If you are someone who has a garage door that makes excessive noise, to the point where neighbors know exactly when you get home, this can be an issue. It might be embarrassing and something you want to rectify. The good news is this article has some great tips to quiet down the door. This can also help you get a good night’s sleep rather than waking up every single time someone opens the garage door to enter your home.
Any metal parts that touch other metal components should be properly lubricated
If keeping your garage door going for as long as possible is the goal, you want to make sure you lubricate the metal parts on a regular basis. When the professional garage door installer placed your door, this person also made sure any parts that needed lubrication were taken care of. That initial lubrication can last for 12 to 15 months. However, if your garage door is any older than that, especially if used in different temperatures and on a regular basis, you will need to do some lubrication on your own. This is important for any moving parts, but especially metal parts that work with other metal parts.
What lubricant should be used? You might be surprised to know that the lubricant is likely already in your garage. It’s motor oil, the same stuff you use on your lawnmower, car, and ATV. What shouldn’t be used? You should not use a degreaser, which includes WD‑40. You also should stay away from automobile grease. Many people use this to lubricate the horizontal and curve areas of their garage door tracks. However, this is not suggested. If you have already done so, remove it with a clean rag. The roller should not be sliding but rolling.
You will want to apply the motor oil to any hinges, rollers and lift springs. Don’t go crazy with it, though. With the springs, apply the oil with a cloth across the entire length and around the actual springs. With the rollers and hinges, use another cloth. Make sure you wipe up any excess oil because it can drip onto your vehicle when the door is open. There’s no reason to use too much. It’s actually better to do the lubrication twice a year, rather than to add too much in a single application each year.
You should also be sure to lubricate the weatherstripping on the external frame. This is especially important if it is made of PVC. For this job, you will want to use a silicone‑based lubricant for protection and to keep the component supple. You can use this same lubricant on the other doors in your home. For example, it can be used on your patio door and screen on the track. This will keep your doors sliding easily and will not stain anything.
If you are expecting to need a garage door installer for any reason, this expert can also provide you with 2 types of lubricants for your garage door.
Make sure that all the screws and bolts are tight
While it might seem odd, your garage door has many components that all need to work properly for it to operate at peak performance. Because of that, all screws and bolts should be tightened on occasion. You’ll want to be sure you pay attention to hinge screws to determine if they have loosened. The bolts located on either end of the horizontal tracks that is attached to the ceiling with metal brackets also should be looked over. If you have noticed the tracks moving at all when the door is opening or closing, make sure to tighten them as soon as you can.
Determine whether your rollers need to be changed out
While you may not immediately think of them, metal rollers can be a common source of extra noise. You should take a look at the steel rods that are in charge of holding your rollers. Note whether it looks like everything is attached as it should be. Have you noticed that the rollers are rolling rather than sliding? Assuming everything is in the right condition, all you should need is lubrication to keep things properly operating.
If the metal rollers aren’t working well, you may want to consider switching to nylon rollers instead. You will have two different options here: the first is a black nylon roller that has no ball bearings while the second has 11‑ball bearing steel rollers that are coated in white nylon. If you have a smaller door of 9’ x 7’, the black might be just fine. However, for a larger door, such as a 16’, you’ll want to update to white rollers.
Finally, make sure to check your electric garage door opener
You want to do a careful examination of the garage door opener, because plenty of noise can come from an opener that has parts which are badly adjusted. If you have an opener that is no more than 7 years old, there isn’t much you will need to do. You don’t need to add oil or other lubricants. However, you should take a moment to look at your belt or chain drive to see if it needs to be tightened a bit. You should also take a look at our maintenance guide if it is available. If not, you can likely download it from the website of the manufacturer. Below we’ll look at another option for soundproofing.
For those who have a garage door opener that is over 7 years old or who aren’t sure how old the opener is, finding out is a cinch. Take a look at the motor housing after you remove the plastic cover that is over the light bulb. In many cases, you will find the year of manufacture here. If the opener happens to be more than 15 years old, it’s an exceptional idea to switch it out. This gives you a better level and safety and access to all the new technology advances that have come out since 2006. Another thing to consider is if there is a chain‑cable of chain combination on your trolley that pulls up the garage door. You should also check whether the opener track is made of 3 sections, which are held together with bolts that require tightening.
If you decide that you do need to switch out your door opener for a new model, make sure to look for a ½ HP model that includes a one‑piece track and metal‑reinforced rubber belt drive.
There are other things that will need to be considered when you have a quotation done by a garage door expert. For instance, if there is a room over the garage, you may need extra soundproofing. The option to attach your track system and door opener to the ceiling using noise isolators made of rubber can significantly reduce noise transmission.
If you don’t have time to take care of all these things on your own…
We provide expert garage door specialists right in your area. You can get in contact us, we offer a 28‑point tune‑up program that will ensure your garage door is in perfect shape and making less noise.
We believe that we know garage doors more than anyone else you could call. We can explain your best choice and advise you on an option that meets your needs while staying within your budget. We can also happily send you a quotation by email.
If you prefer, you are also welcome to meet us at our showroom. If you are thinking about getting a new garage door, you can use our Design Centre to choose the style that suits you best. If you just need a dost of inspiration, visit our image gallery to get lots of ideas.
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