We’ve all been there — maybe you were on your way to work one morning or getting home late, and the garage door makes a noise so loud it seems like it just might wake up the entire neighborhood!
Luckily, a noisy garage is relatively easy to fix most of the time. With a few quick adjustments, you’ll reap the benefits immediately. So, if you have noticed noises while opening and closing your garage, from squeaking and popping to creaking and grinding, this guide is perfect for you.
It’s important to note you can fix some garage door issues on your own while others require an expert. When any part of the garage door has become broken or damaged, you risk serious injury as the heavy door can fall off the track at any time.
If your garage door squeaks or grinds, the solution may be to lubricate the rollers. If a visual is helpful, check out this video on how to lubricate the garage rollers properly.
Why Is Your Garage Door Noisy?
Your garage door can be noisy for several reasons, including issues with the rollers or a problem with the motor. There are many moving components of a functioning garage door that can go awry as time goes on.
- Squeaky Garage Door: If your garage door is making a squeaking or grinding noise, it could be because the rollers do not have enough lubrication to moving parts properly. Without lubrication, the rollers grind against one another, causing the squeaky noise you hear.
- Popping or Bucking Garage Door: Hearing these noises when your garage door opens can be scary and, unfortunately, not as easy to diagnose as other problems. Many aspects could be causing the popping noises you hear. The two most common issues that cause popping and bucking are loose hinges and bowing garage door panels.
- Garage Door Clunking or Clinking: When a garage door clunks, there are a few potential causes. The two biggest culprits are spring coils or a defective roller. You will need to examine both thoroughly to find which is the root of your clinking garage door. Spring coils may be rusted and worn, causing them to rub together, while a defective roller poses a risk that requires a professional.
- Garage Door Opener/Motor Making Noise: Sometimes, the actual garage door itself isn’t the issue, and it is the opener making an obnoxious noise. In this case, a common problem is the chain has become too dry for the parts to move seamlessly, or there is significant damage to the chain or belt itself. If it is a case of lubrication, you may fix it yourself. If the chain or belt has become damaged or loose, do not touch it! Call a professional.
How to Fix a Squeaky Garage Door
Now that you have diagnosed the problem, it is time to get to work! For the most part, fixing a garage door noise is easy and inexpensive. Below are some step-by-step guides for how to address your noisy garage.
- A synthetic lubricant (one designed specifically for garage doors is optimal but not necessary)
- If the can has a nozzle, it will be easiest for application. If not, you will need a small material, such as a cloth or cotton, to apply the lubricant to the rollers
- Be sure to select a lubricant that is safe for your garage door material. Some lubricants are universal, while others are only safe for a single material, such as nylon or steel.
Close the Garage Door and disengage it from the opener
Standing inside the garage, locate each roller around the perimeter of the garage.
Typically, this will look like two cylinders closely grouped with a roller attached to the track so that it may slide open.
- You will need to place the lubricant where the roller wheel and shaft meet
- Rotate as you apply to spread the lubricant evenly
- Do this for each roller
Reconnect the opener and open the garage to test the effectiveness of lubricating the rollers. If there is still a squeak, consider re-diagnosing the issue.
How to Fix a Banging, Popping, or Bucking Garage Door
If your garage door is popping, banging, or bucking, you will first need to find the issue as there are a few things that could become damaged and result in these noises. We’ve got another video to help guide your efforts here.
Problem 1: Garage Door Hinges Broken or Damaged: If there is a problem with the door hinges, such as loose or broken, it is quite an easy fix. Loose door hinges will need to be tightened. Broken door hinges will need to be replaced to prevent popping noises in the future.
Problem 2: Garage Door Panels Sagging: Sometimes, your garage door’s materials weaken as time goes on. The actual garage door panels might begin to sag and bow as they try to slide open. If this is the case, you will need to purchase a new garage door or selectively replace damaged panels as a temporary fix.
This job is best left to professionals as it is not as simple as adding lubricant or tightening a screw.
How to Fix a Clinking or Clunking Garage Door
As mentioned before, there are two potential issues when it comes to clinking or clunking garage doors. The first option is an issue with spring coils, such as rust, making them ineffective. The second option is that the garage has an issue with the rollers. If the door has a problem with the rollers that lubrication cannot fix, do not attempt to remedy – leave it to the professionals.
- Gather Supplies
- A synthetic lubricant (one designed specifically for garage doors is optimal but not necessary)
- If the can has a nozzle, it will be easiest for application. If not, you will need a small material, such as a cloth or cotton, to apply the lube to the rollers
- Be sure to select a lubricant that is safe for your garage door material. Some lubricants are universal, while others are only safe for a single material, such as nylon or steel.
- Step Ladder
- Remember Safety: Close the Garage Door and disengage it from the opener
- Set up latter near spring coils and carefully climb
- Spray or Apply Lubricant to Spring Coils: Be sure to get all aspects of the coils, front and back, to ensure an even coat
- Wipe Away Excess Lubricant: Using your cloth, wipe away any excess lubricant not to drip down or make a mess.
- Test the Opener: Reconnect the opener and open the garage and test the effectiveness of lubricating the rollers. If there is still a clinking/clunking, consider option two below.
- Gather Supplies
- A synthetic lubricant (one designed specifically for garage doors is optimal but not necessary)
- If the can has a nozzle, it will be easiest for application. If not, you will need a small material, such as a cloth or cotton, to apply the lube to the rollers
- Be sure to select a lubricant that is safe for your garage door material. Some lubricants are universal, while others are only safe for a single material, such as nylon or steel.
- Remember Safety: Close the Garage Door and disengage it from the opener
- Examine Rollers: Search for any signs of damage on the roller, including wear or tear, cracking, broken, or misplaced rollers.
- If No Damage, Apply Lubricant as Normal: Apply a generous amount of lubricant to the rollers, making sure to get even coverage
- Wipe Away Excess Lubricant
If lubricating the spring coils did not solve the issue, inspect the rollers for any damage-causing unnecessary noise.
If there is damage to the rollers, do NOT Engage. Defective or severely damaged rollers pose a massive risk to any users or bystanders. Broken rollers must be replaced immediately, or you run the risk of them falling off the track and onto a person or vehicle. Cease garage door use until the rollers can be replaced.
How to Make Your Garage Door Quieter
A problem with the garage door opener may be the reason for the noises you’re hearing. To diagnose this, inspect the opener to see if the chain is in good condition. If the chain is in good condition, there are a couple of options for quieting the noise.
- Gather Supplies: Wrench, drill, jigsaw, step ladder, and a rubber pad to place inside the opener
- Remember Safety: Close the Garage Door and disengage it from the opener. Unplug the motor.
- Set up the ladder under garage door motor and carefully climb
- Unscrew and remove the motor, set it on top of ladder
- Disconnect the door-track mounting bracket from the wall
- Put rubber pad in between mounting bracket and wall
- Reattach the mounting bracket and motor, reassembling the opener
- Step down and Reconnect the opener to ensure the rubber pad worked
- Test the Garage Door: Reconnect the opener and open the garage and test the effectiveness of placing the rubber pad. If there is still noise, move on to option two.
- Gather Supplies:
- A synthetic lubricant (one designed specifically for garage doors is optimal but not necessary)
- If the can has a nozzle, it will be easiest for application. If not, you will need a small material, such as a cloth or cotton, to apply the lube to the rollers
- Be sure to select a lubricant that is safe for your garage door material. Some lubricants are universal, while others are only safe for a single material, such as nylon or steel.
- Step Ladder
- Remember Safety: Close the Garage Door and disengage it from the opener
- Set up ladder near opener and carefully climb
- Spray or Apply Lubricant to Opener Chain: Be sure to get all aspects of the chain, front and back, to ensure an even coat
- Wipe Away Excess: Using your cloth, wipe away any excess lubricant not to drip down or make a mess or pose a hazard.
- Test the Garage Door: Reconnect the opener and open the garage and test the effectiveness of lubricating the opener chain.
Important: This process is only acceptable for metal chains, NOT a rubber belt. Do not lubricate a rubber belt as it is unnecessary and could cause further issues.
Conclusion
Following the steps in these guides, you’re well on your way to a smooth process of opening and closing your garage. Most of the time you will find that your garage’s metal components just need a little lubrication to silence the movement, but other times it might be a bigger issue that will need a professional’s help.
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