Why Is My Garage Door So Loud? What Each Noise Means

Most noises come from parts that are dry, loose or worn. Here's what each one usually means:

• Squeaking or squealing

  Dry hinges, springs or roller bearings, with metal rubbing on metal. Lubrication usually fixes it.

• Rattling

  Loose nuts and bolts on the hinges, track brackets or opener rail, or a slack opener chain. Tightening usually fixes it.

• Grinding

  Usually worn rollers or bearings, the opener's gears, or a track out of line. If the door also jerks or hesitates, have it inspected.

• Popping or creaking

  Springs that need lubrication, or a spring near the end of its life. A new popping sound is worth checking.

• Scraping

  The door is rubbing on the track, weatherstripping or frame. It may be out of alignment or starting to come off its tracks. See off-track repair.

• Humming or straining

  The opener is working too hard: the door may be out of balance, a spring may be weak, or the opener may be wearing out. See opener repair.

• A loud bang

  Usually a broken spring, often when no one is using the door. Stop using the opener until it's checked. See garage door spring problems.

Stop using the door and call for a repair if you notice:

• A loud bang, followed by a door that won't open or feels heavy
• Grinding along with jerky or uneven movement
• Scraping along with a door that is crooked in its opening
• A loose or frayed cable, whatever the noise

In these cases, using the door can make the damage worse.

• Lubrication. Hinges, springs, roller bearings and the opener's chain or screw need lubrication about twice a year, with a garage door lubricant. Don't lubricate nylon roller wheels, and don't grease the inside of the tracks; it collects dirt.
• Tightened hardware. Tightening the hinges, brackets and rail mounts removes most rattles.
• New rollers. Nylon rollers with sealed bearings are much quieter than worn metal rollers.
• A quieter opener. If the noise is the opener itself, a belt-drive or wall-mount opener is much quieter than a chain drive. It matters most when there is a bedroom above or next to the garage.
• Balance and alignment. A balanced, aligned door runs smoothly and puts less strain on the opener and springs.

Heat and dust can dry out lubricant, so listen for noise again after a long summer. A yearly tune-up is the simplest way to stay ahead of it.

On a garage door tune-up, a technician lubricates the moving parts, tightens the hardware, checks the springs and cables, checks the door's balance and the opener's safety settings, and points out any part that is close to failing. Many noise problems are fixed in that one visit.