Since we use them almost every day, it is easy to get used to the noises our garage doors make. As long as the door opens and closes, we tend to ignore insignificant noises. With our cars though, we tend to do regular preventative maintenance even when there are no obvious issues.
Do you happen to be one of those neighbors whose garage door loudly announces every time you open and close it? Well if so, here are some helpful tips to make the operation of your garage door quieter, which can benefit you and the neighbors.
Proper lubrication
Almost certainly during the installation process, lubricants were no doubt applied. The initial lubrication of these metal moving parts normally lasts between 12 and 15 months. Lubrication after this point is extremely important and can eliminate the loud noises caused by friction. Just like any other domestic equipment, lubrication is an important step in the maintenance process.
Which lubricant is best?
Surprisingly the best lubricant is one you may already have in your garage: motor oil. You may already use this for your lawnmower, snowmobile or car. What absolutely should not be used? First off, WD-40 because it is a degreaser. Also, stay away from automobile grease. Sometimes people put that on the curved and the horizontal sections of garage door tracks. If you’ve already applied one of these, use a rag to wipe it off completely. It’s important to remember that the roller is meant to “roll” on the track and not just slide.
You will want to apply motor oil specifically on the hinges, rollers and lift springs. Apply moderately. For application on the springs, use a rag and apply the oil over the entire length and completely around the springs. For application on hinges and rollers, keep another rag close by and remove any extra so it does not drip onto your vehicle while the garage door is open. Feel free to repeat this process two times within a year, preferably before winter and after the winter season.
It’s important to pay attention to the outside frame weatherstripping. If it is PVC, use a silicone–basedlubricant for protection and apply liberally. This kind of lubricant may be used for all types of doors you have in your home. For example, your patio door may have a screen that sits on a track. Adding this lubrication will make your doors slide with greater ease.
A very good, experienced garage door installer should offer you 2 types of lubricants for your garage door.
Maintain bolts and screws
It may seem insignificant, but since the garage door uses many different parts in order to work correctly, all bolts and screws should be maintained and tightened appropriately. Make sure you pay attention to screws on hinges to make sure they are tightened properly. There are bolts at the end of the horizontal tracks that are attached to the ceiling. You want to check these as well. If the horizontal tracks move while the door is moving, hurry and tighten the bolts. That is an indication the bolts may be loosening.
Time to replace the rollers?
Noise often comes from a source that it’s not always noticed, the metal rollers. Pay attention and observe the rods that hold the rollers. Does the set up appear to be secure? Look at how the rollers “roll”. Are they “rolling” instead of sliding inside of the rail? After checking it out, and everything looks OK, proper operation can be achieved with appropriate lubrication.
If you realize that your metal rollers are not adequately doing the job, you can change to nylon rollers. You have two choices. There are black nylon rollers without ball bearings. If you have a garage door sized 9′ x 7′, the black nylon rollers will definitely work. If you have a 16′ double garage door, the white rollers are a great choice.
Electric garage door opener
It is important to pay careful attention to this area because a lot of noise may come from parts of the opener that have been adjusted poorly. The good news is, there’s very little maintenance that needs to be done if the garage door opener is less than seven years old. There is no lubrication or oil that needs to be added. It is important to take a look and see if the chain or belt drive needs to be tightened a little. The maintenance guide provided with the opener will help you. If you’ve missed placed it, you can download the guide online.
What if your opener is over seven years old? Or what if you don’t know how old it is? You can look on the housing of the motor after taking off the plastic cover protecting the light bulb. Often times, the year it was made is written there. If you find that your opener is more than 15 years old, it may be time to change it. This is mainly for safety concerns but technology has advanced since 2006 and it is a good idea to take advantage of the improvements. Are you always tightening the track for the opener, made in three sections, held together with bolts?
If you find it is time to change the door opener, try to find a ½ HP model with a one-piece track and metal reinforced rubber belt drive.
When you ask for a quote from a garage door professional, there are other things to consider and you may want added to your quote. For example, do you have a room over the garage, like a bedroom? If the answer is yes, you may want to reduce the noise. Using rubber noise isolators can decrease noise transmission significantly and there is a way to attach the door opener and its track system using this method.
Need help taking care of everything?
We are here to help. We are the garage door professionals in your area, and we surely can assist you with all your needs.We have a 28‑point tune‑up to help get your garage door in tip top shape so you can have sweet, uninterrupted dreams.
We are very experienced and know garage doors. Based on your needs, we can offer advice and explain the best choices based on your budget. We can also send you a quotation via email.
If you would like to, you can come over and see our showroom. Are you thinking about a new garage door? Our Design Centre can help you choose a style that suits you. Need some inspiration? Look through our image gallery and get lots of great ideas.
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