A noisy garage door isn’t only annoying and a brewing problem if not addressed right away. It will reduce the lifespan of your door and lead to unexpected failure on a busy day. If you’re dealing with this issue, we’re here to help with basic troubleshooting steps before the noise becomes a huge inconvenience.
In this post, we’ll discuss ways to fix a noisy garage door, what causes it, and what you can do to prevent it in the future. If nothing works, you can always call us for expert garage door repair in Los Angeles.
How to fix a noisy garage door
Below, we explain common noises from garage doors, the reasons why your door makes strange noises, and how you can fix them quickly.
1. Squeaking or creaking noise
Squeaky garage doors are often due to a lack of lubrication. The noise typically comes from the hinges, rollers, and tracks as you open or close your door. While it’s a simple and easy-to-fix problem, squeaking due to lack of lubrication will subject your garage door to unnecessary wear and tear.
How to fix: Simply lubricate the noisy garage door track, rollers, or hinges using a silicone-based lubricant. Avoid using WD-40 or other oil-based products as they tend to attract and hold dirt. Over time, this accumulated gunk will block the smooth operation of your garage door.
2. Grinding noise
Grinding noises often point to possible debris on your garage door tracks. However, if the tracks are clean and well-lubricated, you’d want to check for any misaligned or broken parts that rub on each other. As with any source of unusual noises in your door, nipping this in the bud will save you from potential damages in the future.
How to fix: Perform a quick inspection of your door tracks and rollers to see if there are any broken parts. If you notice broken parts or any substantial damage, you can call us for professional noisy garage door repair.
3. Rattling noise
Rattling noises often happen when the door panels are not secured properly. This is also the case when other parts become loose as you try to open or close the garage door. This isn’t a huge problem, but loose parts can still cause premature damage if left unattended.
How to fix: Inspect all the fasteners and screws on your garage door. Tighten them and see if the rattling noise still persists. If the noise doesn’t go away, we suggest you call us for a professional inspection so we can get to the root of the problem.
4. Banging or clanging noise
Banging or clanging sounds can be due to loose brackets, bolts, or even springs. If you hear a loud bang from your garage and your door starts acting up, it’s possible that the springs are damaged.
How to fix: Check if there are loose brackets or bolts on your garage door. If not, check if there are gaps or cracks in your torsion springs. If yes, then it’s best to call for garage door spring repair in Los Angeles since torsion springs are loaded with high tension, which can be dangerous if not handled properly.
5. Humming or buzzing sound
Constant humming or buzzing is actually a noisy garage door opener. This could be due to electrical issues on the motor, faulty safety sensors, or the opener has already reached the end of its service life. Take note that this unusual sound is a warning sign that your garage door opener is at risk of overheating and eventual motor failure.
How to fix: To fix a noisy garage door opener motor, try unplugging and restarting the unit. You should also ensure that your door and sensors are properly aligned. If you’ve tried these basic troubleshooting steps and the problem still persists, consider calling us for professional garage door opener repair in Los Angeles.
6. Popping sound
Popping sounds are actually normal for most garage doors. This happens when metal parts contract or expand as the temperature changes. However, if the popping sound is happening regularly, especially when operating your door, you should still check for potential damage.
How to fix: If the popping is temperature-related, you don’t really have to do anything. Still, you can check for misalignment issues if the noise is becoming prevalent.
Dos and don’ts of a noisy garage door fix
While many causes of garage door noises can be fixed with DIY repairs, you should still keep the following points in mind to avoid untoward incidents:
- Do wear protective gear. Whether it’s replacing the rollers, installing replacement cables, or whatnot, a pair of gloves and safety glasses can save you from an ER trip. You should always follow recommended garage door safety tips before you start any repairs.
- Don’t attempt DIY spring repairs. As we’ve mentioned earlier, torsion springs contain high tension. Without the right tools and technique, DIY repairs may cause serious physical injuries.
- Do call a professional. If you can’t seem to figure out the source of the noise, it’s best to call a garage door technician. This way, your door will be inspected and fixed by an expert before the problem gets bigger.
- Don’t ignore warning signs. Unusual noises are your garage door’s ‘cry for help’. Ignoring and putting off repairs will only lead to further damage and costly repairs in the future.
When to call a professional to fix a noisy garage door
Here are some tell-tale signs it’s time to get a garage door professional involved in your noisy door:
- The noise doesn’t go away despite all your troubleshooting and repair efforts.
- The noise gets louder by the day, which is a sign of worsening damage.
- Your garage door looks uneven when opening, aside from the unusual noise.
- The noise is coming from your garage door opener, and you don’t know why.
- Lights flicker on your garage door whenever the noise occurs, which is a sign of an underlying electrical issue on your opener.
- You find yourself repairing your garage door frequently, and the noise keeps coming back.
- Your garage door is stalling, or your opener is responding erratically.
Call Rock Garage Door Repair to fix your noisy doors fast!
Whether it’s an annoying squeak, rattle, or buzz, our licensed and insured garage door technicians can fix it for you. We’re on-call 24/7 for all your garage door needs in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Our technicians can fix just about any door model, including Clopay, Genie, LiftMaster, Raynor, Chamberlain, and more. We’ve seen almost every garage door problem in years, so rest assured that your door is in the best hands.
Contact us today and let our licensed technicians fix that annoying garage door noise once and for all! We’re available for same-day emergency repairs and service for your convenience.
