Making a Noisy Garage Door Quiet Again
Useful as they are for security, garage doors can certainly be noisy. Although they rarely start out that way, you probably don't notice a door becoming louder as it opens and closes over the years. And the noise can be a real problem, particularly if you need to access the garage during the night and you're conscious of waking up neighbours and family members.
Some types of garage doors are naturally quieter than others, particularly in the case of modern automatic doors compared to old, manual retracting ones. However, you don't need to replace the whole thing to make it a bit quieter; there are a few things you can do to reduce the noise it makes whenever you want to get to your vehicle.
Give it a quick inspection
Just taking the time to look over your garage door can be quite revealing. Keep an eye out for any loose screws or bolts, as these can make a big contribution to noise but are quick and easy to tighten up. Also look out for any that are rusted or worn and might need to be replaced.
Slowly open and close the door while looking at the rollers. Over time, these can easily start to wear out, making a racket whenever they're used. You can pick up new ones fairly cheaply and replace them, or you can get a professional to do it for you if you're not sure how.
Lubricate the moving parts
Buy some ordinary lubricant in a spray can and use it on hinges, rollers, springs, chains — any parts that move will be noisy if they aren't properly lubricated. It's recommended that the moving parts be lubricated every couple of months, and if you haven't been doing so, you'll likely notice a big difference once they're moving freely again. Dry off any excess, and don't leave it dripping, as it can damage parts and create a slipping hazard.
Once you've applied the lubricant, open and close the door a few times to spread it through the parts in question. If you hear any squeaking or creaking noises, you might have missed something, so give the door a good look over for anything else that moves.
Add some padding
You might find that some noise is created by parts clashing together as the door opens and closes. This can be solved by the application of some insulating padding, which is available as a self-adhesive to make the job easy. It doesn't have to look pretty as long as it stops the loud banging from happening, so stick it where it needs to be and trim off any excess parts.
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