How To Stop Your Garage Door From Rattling And Squeaking

19 May 2017
 Categories: , Blog

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If your garage door squeaks or rattles when you open and close it, the noise can quickly become annoying. Likely, you're tired of cringing every time you push your opener button! Here is the good news: you can usually fix this issue on your own. Follow these steps to get rid of the noise.

1. Tighten the Bolts and Screws

All of that noise may be coming from a single loose bolt or screw that's throwing the door off balance. So, grab your wrench and screwdriver, and starting at the top, make sure each screw and bolt is tightened up. You might discover that a screw or bolt has become completely jiggled out of place and is missing. In that case, you may need to remove another screw or bolt of the same size and take it with you to the hardware store to ensure you find another one that's the same size.

2. Lubricate the Tracks

If the door is still making noise after you tighten everything up, then the problem may be a lack of lubrication. Use an all-purpose lubricant like WD-40, and apply it all along the garage door track. Be generous. Then, open and close the door a few times to ensure the lubricant is spread evenly. Wipe away any excess that seeps out along the edge.

3. Check for worn rollers.

If the door is still making noise after you apply lubricant, then the next possible issue is that the rollers, which are the wheels that move along the tracks, are worn. You can replace the top set of rollers on your own, though the bottom set will need to be replaced by a professional since they are typically attached to a torsion spring. You risk injury by dealing with the torsion spring, since it's under such high pressure.

To replace the top rollers, you can just pull the cable to the side to disengage it from the roller. Then, unscrew the roller wheel from the metal rod it attaches to. Screw the new roller into place, and then pull the cable back over it. Do the same to the other roller on the opposite side. It's important to replace both rollers to keep the door balanced.

If none of these steps seem to address the noise issue, then contact a garage door services specialist in your area. The position of the track may need to be adjusted, or you may need the bottom rollers replaced.