Garage forms an important part of the home. It imparts a great up-scale look to the exterior of your house. It provides the much-needed security to your prized car. But, a squeaky garage door is a bane for any homeowner. A noisy garage door not only disturbs your family when you try to park your car on a late-night home, but it also irritates your neighbors to a great extent. If you are one of those homeowners who is facing this menace, then this article is for you.
Common issues:
Squeaky garage doors are generally caused by loose hardware parts, worn-out rollers, and non-lubricated machine parts. All these issues can be fixed if you have the right guidance. In this article, we shall discuss how to go about the problem step by step.
Tighten all machine parts:
Most noisy doors are a result of loose machine parts. One should start by tightening all the track hardware and the bolts and screws used in the setup. You can make use of a deep socket and ratchet for this purpose. Do not go overboard and over-tighten them.
Thorough inspection:
Once you have done the tightening part, it is now time for a thorough inspection. You should check every part of the machinery to identify if any part has been worn out. You should especially check the rollers and hinges. Many unsealed bearings get worn out after use for many years. If you find any worn-out rollers, then it is essential that you replace them with nylon ones. They are quieter and do not require oiling from time to time. Try to use sealed bearings since unsealed ones tend to wear out much faster.
Track rollers should be replaced with caution. For example, if the door makes use of torsion springs at the header above the door, then any attempt to replace the brackets at the bottom might cause serious injury. If you are unsure as to how to go about it, then it is always better to hire a company with expertise in garage door repair in Las Vegas for this purpose.
Replacement of hinges:
Wobbly hinges also tend to cause a lot of noise. Though they are less prone to wear and tear as compared to rollers, one must also pay attention to these tiny parts. If left unattended, it might lead to wearing out of the tongue-and-groove joints of the garage door. Look for a larger than the normal hole at the point where the hinge fits into the hinge bracket. If you find the hole to be too large, then it is a clear indication that the hinge needs to be replaced. Early signs of wear and tear include the deposition of gray dust around the hinge pin.
Check the chain of the door opener:
After replacing the worn-out parts, you should check the chain of the door opener. A loose chain can cause a lot of slapping sounds and is often the chief reason behind jerky door movement. You shall find the procedure to tighten the garage door chain in your owner’s manual. You should start by tightening the same as per instructions in the manual.
Lubricate all parts:
It is now time to lubricate all parts of the garage door systematically. You should use the best garage door lubricant for this purpose. You should spray the hinges, springs, and roller bearings with lubricant. Be careful not to miss any pivot points or bar bearings. It is a good practice to lubricate all moving parts once every six months at least to keep the garage door smoothly running and quiet.