What are these noises coming from my garage door?

Garage door specialist

We know that it can be a bit disconcerting when your garage door begins to make you laugh because of the crazy sounds it makes. You might a bit worried, but then your mind is put to rest when it continues to open with a push of the remote button.

Your inside voice, however, keeps telling you to do something about it before it’s too late and your car gets stuck inside because the door won’t open. Talk about one of those mornings!

The question is how to go about diagnosing those funny noises when you are trying to talk to your garage door company over the phone. Should you be worried? Is a loud noise more serious that a minor, annoying one? Let’s talk about it…

Boom, clunk, thump!

If you hear some weird noises every time your garage door raises or lowers, you probably have some questions. With an electric opener, these noises could be an indication that it is straining to do the job. These noises can also be tied to the torsion spring (the ones that are over your double garage door). They may be broken and in need of replacing. You should know that it is not common for both of these springs to snap on a 16‑foot (4.9‑meter) at the same moment.

If your garage has a single door, one that is something like 9 feet (2.7 meters) in width and has a torsion spring, your electric opener might lift the door if you are in a critical situation, but there is some risk in doing so.

Boom clunk thump

To make sure, take a careful look over the top of the door when it is closed. You are looking to see if the spring is broken in two different places. If you find that this is the case, it is important that you call a specialist to come out and replace the spring.

Clink, clink, clink!

If you hear a clinking noise that keeps cropping up when you open and close the door, it is time to diagnose it. There are numerous factors that could cause this, but it is usually the result of some coils within the spring rubbing against each other. Since garages tend to be rather cool and humid, rust can begin to appear on the springs over time. The rubbing motion that results can produce such a noise.

This noise can also be caused by one of the door roller becoming defective, making it about ready to fall off.

Squeak, squeak, squeak!

This might be a noise that is sharp in nature and is heard when you raise or lower the door as well. The typical culprit is that there is not enough lubricant applied to the exterior frame weather‑stripping. This is between the garage door sections. It is these parts that are composed of PVC. This tends to dry out over time and can stick together.

Grind, grind, grind!

This is a medium intensity sound that is metallic in nature and can be caused by a chain or belt on the electric garage door opener itself. This will make it sound as if the opener is being unnecessarily forced, and that the gear pinions are skipping over a link. If the chain or belt is too loose, there will need to be an adjustment made.

Is it serious, Doctor?

The answer to this is a frustrating maybe. Broken springs can be serious. In such a case, you should have it repaired by a professional within 24 hours. However, there are other times when noises that are the result of a rubbing motion on the weatherstripping. This is much less serious in nature.

No matter what, you should not consider trying to repair your garage door on your own, especially when a broken spring is involved. Remember that the tension from a spring alone is designed to lift the entire weight of the door, so you do not want to be caught in the middle of that.

It is possible to take care of many of these annoying noises by lubricating certain sections of your garage door:

  • Metal part: Put on a small amount of oil that is petroleum-based. Apply it to the rollers, hinges and springs.
  • PVC part: Use a silicone-based lubricant and apply it to the weatherstripping near the bottom, around the sections, and around the exterior frame.

The necessary lubricant can be found at any garage door specialist in your area. If your garage door has not receive an inspection in quite some time, talk to a technician who is an expert in garage doors and garage door openers.

Should I have a proper tune-up done to my garage door?

YES! If your garage door is over five years old, this should be done every year and a half. Contact us at 724-834-8450. We have earned a solid reputation throughout the area. We offer a residential maintenance program that encompasses a 26-point checklist, adjustments and lubrication of the major components of your garage door. If you want to know more about pricing, we are happy to email you a quotation.

If you are in the area, stop by and see us at our showroom. You can also visit our Design Centre to select the style of door that best suits you. You can also see our image gallery online.

Tune-up

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