What Should You Do When Lubrication Doesn't Fix A Noisy Garage Door?
Like many parts of your home, garage doors require routine maintenance to function reliably, quietly, and safely. Several parts of your door and the associated mechanisms require regular lubrication, and keeping the tracks clean is particularly important. Falling behind on this maintenance can result in squeaking, grinding, and clunking, as well as excessive wear and premature failures.
Unfortunately, routine maintenance won't solve every issue. If your garage door makes some unpleasant noises even after you've taken care of essential lubrication tasks, you may have a more serious problem. Here are three non-maintenance reasons why your garage door may be making disturbing and embarrassing noises.
1. Faulty Opener Chains
Garage door openers typically use a belt or chain to move the door, although chain-driven openers are more common. These chains require periodic adjustment since they can sag and become loose over time. A loose garage door chain will cause numerous issues, including rough, jerky motion and loud noises as the door opens and closes.
In most cases, periodically checking and tightening the chain will resolve any issues. However, the chain itself can wear out or stretch, which may cause it to sag again within a few days (or even sooner) after your adjustment. If your chain can't maintain the proper tension, you'll want to have a professional garage door service investigate the problem and potentially replace the chain.
2. Warped Tracks
Your garage door must move smoothly on its tracks to open quietly and evenly. Any problem with the tracks can cause the door to pull on one side, move roughly, or fail to open altogether. Keeping your tracks clean and lubricated is generally sufficient to guarantee your door operates smoothly, but tracks can sometimes become warped or damaged despite a good maintenance schedule.
You'll usually notice your garage door opening slowly and loudly if you have a problem with misaligned, warped, or otherwise damaged tracks. Pay special attention to how the door looks when in the closed position. If you can see a gap on one side, that's a good indication that your tracks have a problem and that you'll want an expert to investigate further.
3. Balance Problems
Your garage door uses springs to store kinetic energy and make the door easier to open. These springs also help to maintain the proper balance for the door, ensuring that both sides lift evenly. An out-of-balance garage door will struggle to open and may get caught on its tracks as it moves. If the problem is severe enough, you may hear grinding, screeching, or squeaking since the rollers cant move smoothly.
Balance problems can be potentially serious and dangerous since they often involve the springs. If your door's noises seem to be related to a balance issue, you should contact a professional repair service as soon as possible. An expert can perform a balance test, determine the underlying issue, and ensure your door can open and close safely again.
Contact a garage door repair service to learn more.
Share