what you need to know when buying a garage door

Reasons Your Garage Door Opens And Closes Loudly

Garage door openers are a great convenience compared to older units that had to be opened and closed manually. Unfortunately, when the computerized unit won't work correctly, it can be bothersome, especially if your bedroom is close to the garage area. It could be a part that needs lubrication, loose hardware, or worn out rollers. Use these suggestions to see if you can locate the problem before you make the decision to call a repair company.

Loose Parts

Begin the process by checking to see if all of the screws, bolts, and nuts fit tightly. Check for parts than might be worn out and replace them. Use a lubrication spray on the moving components of the door. Be careful not to over-tighten any of the bolts because you could strip the screw holes or break through the door's surface.

You may also add anti-vibration pads between the ceiling and the mounting bracket to eliminate some of the noise.

Worn Hinges and Rollers

Check for deterioration of the track rollers because they have unsealed bearings. This could cause the door to wobble when the door opens or closes. Try using a nylon roller that has a sealed bearing and won't require oiling. The nylon part may be more expensive than steel but it will be much quieter.

If the door has torsion springs for operation, don't try to replace the rollers in the brackets located on the header above the door. These can cause injury because they are loaded with continuous spring tension.

The hinges may receive wear and some play is normal, but it could cause the door to make noise if they have worked loose and become sloppy. If you observe a hole or see metal filings and gray dust, it may be necessary to replace the hinge.

The Opener Chain

The jerky movement can be caused by rollers against the track. Check the owner's manual to tighten the chain. Use grease to lubricate the track if you have a track drive door opener unit. Grease the threads if you have a screw drive opener.

Lubrication

Use a special lube for spraying the roller bearings, springs, and hinges. Also spray any pivoting points and torsion bar bearings. The special liquid spray will not form a tacky grease to attract dust and dirt that can cause a gummy substance on the parts. Cheaper products can be purchased, such as spray lithium grease and oil, but these won't penetrate the surfaces as well as the liquid lube.

These are fairly simple techniques to try, and they may eliminate or reduce the noise factor. It may be time to call a repair technician, like those at J & D Door Sales Inc., if you don't find a solution with these suggestions. However, if they do work, you have saved a lot of money using the do-it-yourself method.