A squeaky garage door isn’t just an annoying problem, it could be a sign of a severe problem in need of repair. Ignoring a squeaky garage door can result in additional problems that could become expensive if not corrected.
In this article, you will learn how to fix a squeaky garage door.
How to Fix A Squeaky Garage Door
Is your garage door making squeaking noises when you use it? That’s going to be annoying to you and anyone in the vicinity when you use it. More importantly, you’ll need to address the issue because the longer you leave the squeak, the more damage is potentially being done to your garage door.
Before we get started, you may find it more practical to contact a professional that offers residential garage door repair services near you.
Here’s how to fix a squeaky garage door.
Track Down The Cause
The first thing you need to do is find out just what’s making that noise, and put a stop to it as soon as possible. There are a few simple tests you can do to find the culprit.
Get out into your garage and inspect your garage door. In most cases, all you need to do is open and close the door a few times, and look for anything that doesn’t look right. There are a few different parts of the door that could be squeaking:
Rollers: These are on either side of the garage door, and they help it run up and down the tracks. When they’re in need of lubrication, they will start to squeak. They’re attached to hinges, and these too will need lubrication periodically and contribute to the noise.
Hinges: This is the most common cause of squeaking. These hold together the different parts of the garage door, and allow for movement as you open and close it. The rod inside them spins as the hinges move, and the friction is what’s causing the noise.
Tension spring: These are what give your garage door tension, allowing it to stay open as you drive your car into the garage. Over time, they start squeaking as they need lubricating. They expand and contract as the door is used, which again causes friction.
When you’re checking your garage door, make sure you’re looking for anything that’s wobbling, or rusted. The source of the squeaking could be hardware coming loose or getting rusty, so you’ll need to address these issues too.
Fixing The Squeaking Noise
Now you know what’s causing the squeak, you can start fixing it. Most commonly, you can correct the issue yourself. The way you’ll fix it will depend on the cause, so you’ll need to do one of the following things:
Tighten the hardware: If there’s hardware coming loose, such as the hinges, then you’ll just need to tighten it up. Use a socket wrench to tighten up the nuts and bolts that are causing the noise, and you should see the garage door get quiet again.
It is important to note that you do need to leave them a little loose, as you need to allow room for movement.
Lubricate moving parts: This is something that will fix most squeaking issues. If you’ve identified the hinges or rollers as the culprit and there’s no loose hardware, you’ll need to lubricate them. When picking a lubricant, don’t go for WD-40. It’s something a lot of home owners use, but it’s not actually designed for lubrication. Choose a lithium based lubricant instead.
To lubricate your hinges, spray your lubricant onto the pivot points, and along the seam of the rod. You may need to spin the rod to expose the seam and properly lubricate it. Finish by wiping away excess with a rag.
To lubricate the rollers, you’ll want to spray the ball bearings. These are in the innermost part of the wheel, where it meets the rod. Remember you should only lubricate your rollers if they’re metal, as plastic rollers don’t need it as they don’t have ball bearings.
You may be tempted to lubricate the track too, but don’t do it. Again, it doesn’t need it, and it’ll just attract dirt and grime which will cause more problems. You’ll just end up cleaning it out, so you can leave it be.
Once you’ve lubricated the door, you need to open and close it a few times. This will help distribute the lubricant, plus you’ll be able to check if the squeak has gone. In most cases, you will have eliminated it.
If you still have problems with squeaking at this point, it’s best to call in a garage door professional. They’ll be able to tell you what’s going on. It may be something small, or you may need to do something like replacing the garage door. Either way, they’ll be able to tell you.
Maintaining Your Garage Door
Now that you’ve dealt with the squeak, you’ll be able to use your garage door without any annoying noises. To stop it coming back, you’ll need to seasonally inspect and take care of the door. Here’s what you need to do to keep it in top condition.
Inspect all parts: You’ll start with a visual inspection, to see if there’s anything that’s obviously broken and needs repair. Look for dents and issues with the door panels, loose hardware, rust, and so on.
Tighten hardware: If there’s any hardware that appears to be coming loose, tighten it all up to keep it in good working condition. Again, you will need to leave it a little loose for optimum working.
Lubricate all moving parts: Twice a year you will need to lubricate moving parts, to keep it moving smoothly. Use your lithium grease to lubricate things like the hinges, rollers, lock, and so on.
Test your auto reverse: If you have a garage door opener, then you need to test your auto reverse. Place a 2 x 4 piece of wood in the entryway of the garage, and then attempt to close the door. If it auto reverses before it hits the wood, it’s working as intended. If not, you can change the settings on the opener to fix the issue.
A squeaking garage door is annoying, but luckily its easily fixed. Locate the source of the squeaking, and then tighten or lubricate hardware as needed. Regular maintenance will keep the garage door from becoming too noisy in the future. Use these tips to keep it quiet when you use it.