Why Is My Garage Door So Loud?

Why Does My Garage Door make so much noise?

Have you ever been rudely awakened in the middle of the night or early in the morning by a loud and squeaky garage door? If your bedroom is above the garage, you’re probably more than a little bit familiar with this, but some garage doors are so noisy that even people at the other end of the house can hear it when anyone comes home or leaves. Believe it or not, though, this really isn’t normal, and you don’t have to live with a noisy garage door.

Here are some helpful tips to help you diagnose the problem and significantly reduce the noise your garage door makes.

Your Garage Door Opener Might Be the Problem

  • Old garage door openers can be very loud. If yours is more than 20 years old, it might be time to replace it.
  • Does your opener pull your door up using a chain or a blend of steel wire and chain? These are noisy options!
  • If your garage door opener’s trolley is made up of three pieces, check the bolts. They can come loose over time and cause a lot of noise.
  • The ideal garage door opener to reduce noise:
    • A garage door opener that has a metal-reinforced rubber belt will be the quietest option.
    • A one-piece trolley won’t have bolts and parts that will loosen over time and get noisy.

The Problem Could Be the Garage Door and/or Its Hardware

  • Is your garage door made of steel on one side and no insulation? Or is it only partially insulated with a panel running along the inside of the door?
  • If your tracks are bolted together, the bolts might have come loose, creating the noise you’re hearing.
  • Steel rollers can be loud, especially if they’re worn out. They should roll freely, not slide.
  • Is your spring system creating a good counterweight for your garage door? Or is it causing problems?
  • Your best buy:
    • Go with sandwich doors that have two layers of steel that sandwich a layer of insulation. Doors with hardware system that have anchor plates welded to the tracks are stronger and won’t amplify noise from the door.
    • A door system with steel rollers that are covered in nylon and have 11 ball bearings will be much quieter.
    • Get a door with a torsion-type spring system instead of an extension-style system. Not only is this type of spring system safer, but it doesn’t transmit noise as readily because it’s placed over the door. Plus, keeping the system well lubricated will greatly reduce noise form the springs.

Is the Garage Itself Noisy?

  • A concrete garage located in the basement of a building can act as an echo chamber.
  • Hardwood floors can further amplify noise coming from the garage. Adding carpet in the room above the garage can quickly damp out a lot of noise. If there’s enough overhead room, you may also want to insulate your garage’s ceiling. A layer of semi-rigid mineral wool should do the trick. If the noise is still too bad, you can inform members of the household not to use the garage door before or after certain hours of the night or day.
  • The method by which the tracks are attached to the ceiling and door opener can also affect the noise level, as well:
    • For a concrete garage, install pieces of semi-rigid rubber or noise isolators between the ceiling and the track anchors.
    • Noise isolators and semi-rigid rubber can also help with a wooden garage, especially if your garage door opener is attached to a rafter.

Keep Your Garage Door Quiet with Regular Maintenance

Installing all the features we’ve recommended here is a good start, but there’s one essential thing left to do. Twice yearly you need to perform a minimal maintenance procedure, which is basically just a visual inspection and verification of the individual components of your garage door and opener system. Make sure that everything is functioning properly and well lubricated, especially if you have a double garage door (16 ft.). Your garage door is the largest moving part of your house, and your comfort and safety depend on it.

What should you do for your semi-annual maintenance? Check off the items on this quick list twice a year (recommended in March and November):

  • Do a visual inspection of the door and all its hardware. Are there any bolts or screws coming loose?
  • If you have a garage door opener, disconnect it by pulling down on the emergency cord. Then manually open and close the garage door. Is it difficult to move? The door should come up easily with just one hand, weighing between 8 and 10 pounds (3.5-4.5 kilograms). If it feels heavier, this indicates that your springs aren’t working right. Call a trusted garage door specialist ASAP to fix the problem. Do not try to fix it yourself or you could get seriously hurt.
  • Use a metal lubricant, such as 10W30 motor oil, to lubricate all of the door’s components. Lubricate PVC parts like the weatherstripping on the exterior frame with a silicone-based lubricant.

Don’t have the time or expertise to do all that? You don’t have to! We offer an affordable tune-up package, just like the one your mechanic or dealership offers for your car.

Whether you’re in need of a new garage door or garage door opener, or you just need some regular maintenance, schedule a service call online or call us today at 613-547-4566. Want an estimate? You can click here for a free quote, or click here to start designing your perfect garage door! Our staff is standing by to take your call and answer any questions you may have. We’ll be happy to guide you through the whole process to find the best solution for your needs.

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