When you’re dealing with a loud garage door, you’re also dealing with the issue causing the noise. Your garage door should make your life easier and more pleasant, so it’s important to address any unusual sounds as quickly as possible to keep your door in top working condition.  

Here are a few common issues and solutions to help you figure out what causes your garage door to make noise. 

1. Improper Installation If you hear loud grinding, rattling or squealing when you open and close your garage door, it may be installed incorrectly. Rattling or slap sounds can indicate a loose chain, while vibrating, rumbling and rattling may mean that the nuts or bolts are loose. Doors that have been previously installed incorrectly can cause other garage door issues. The door may open slowly and springs or other parts could already be damaged. 

Common Causes Delay in response and alignment issues can indicate that the pulley system or other parts are a result of faulty installation. Issues with this often result from: Using unsuitable equipment. Using incorrect springs or system parts. Human error. 

Solutions Include: If it is evident that your door was installed incorrectly, please do not try to fix yourself as garage doors can be extremely dangerous if you are not an experienced garage door professional, give  Berry Garage Door Company a call, we can help (360) 671-5121 

2. Worn Rollers As the rollers wear, they can cause your door to move out of alignment or slip off of the tracks, causing a squeaking, screeching or vibrating sound. Depending on the type of rollers you have, you may need to lubricate or replace them: Plastic: You need to replace plastic rollers about every two years, as they work without ball bearings and tend to wear down quickly. Steel: Steel rollers last longer than plastic ones, though they are more susceptible to rust and corrosion. Nylon: Nylon rollers last just as long as steel rollers and make less noise. 

Common CausesDepending on how long you’ve had your rollers, they may be reaching the end of their life. Your rollers experience wear and tear every time you open and close your garage door — the more you use the door, the sooner your rollers will wear down. 

Solutions The number of ball bearings in your rollers will affect how long they last. In some cases, you will need to replace your rollers to ensure your door stays aligned. However, you can try to fix your rollers first by lubricating them. If there’s any rust build-up, lubrication will help remove it. It’s best to lubricate steel or nylon rollers about twice a year. If your rollers use unsealed ball bearings, apply the lubrication directly on the bearings. If you find that you do need to replace your rollers, we recommend contacting a professional at Berry Garage Door Company to ensure proper installation and maintain your door’s alignment. 

3. Poor Lubrication Ensuring that all parts are adequately lubricated will keep your garage door running smoothly. Lubrication helps prevent rust and corrosion that can lead to squeaking, grinding, clinking and rattling sounds. 

Common Causes The sounds of an improperly lubricated garage door usually indicate that you need to lubricate more often or that some areas were only partially covered. If you can rule out both of those possibilities, you may want to switch to a different lubricant. Using a higher-quality brand or a different kind of spray or grease may help your lubrication last longer. 

Solutions It’s best to lubricate your door with a silicone spray or white lithium grease every six months to ensure your door stays up and running. Be sure to turn off the power supply, then vacuum and wipe down the tracks — a clean surface will help the lubricant spread evenly. 

Areas to lubricate include: The rollers and hinges. Springs and bearing plates. The armbar and top rail. The door’s lock. Open your door after lubricating to help ensure all moving parts are covered. While this squeaky garage door fix could answer all your problems, you should contact a professional at  Berry Garage Door Company if you notice any parts that need repair. 

4. Off-Balance Door It can be easy to tell when your door is off-balance. Scraping sounds indicate that your door is scraping against your home. Loud Banging noises mean the door is off the track and popping sounds indicate snapped or worn springs. Other common signs of an off-balance door include: An uneven appearance. Closing after being manually opened. Not opening at all. A slow response time. Common Causes There are many reasons a garage door can become off balance. 

Springs: Loose or aging springs can cause one side of the door to move slower than the other, disrupting its balance. Broken torsion springs can cause a garage door to fall quickly and off-track. 

Garage Door Opener Drive System: Depending on your opener, your belt drive or chain drive may also be causing the problem. Chain drives can struggle to lift the door due to broken gears and belt drives sometimes slip in extreme temperatures. 

Weight: If you’ve added weight to your door after installing it, the door may now be too heavy and off-balance. 

Impact: If you’ve accidentally backed into your door, there is a good chance the impact disrupted its balance. 

Solutions You can test an off-balance door at home by cutting the power supply, lifting the door and slowly releasing it. If your door slips from its position or slams shut, you need to call a professional. An off-balance door can cause serious injury. Snapped extension or torsion springs can result in shooting projectiles or your door slamming to the floor. For professional spring replacement or another form of door repair, you can trust  Berry Garage Door Company to deliver quick and safe results. 

5. Opener Your garage door opener is one of the most essential parts of your system. A quick and reliable opener will help you stick to your schedule and safely enter or exit your home. Openers can last upwards of 10 to 15 years and we can sometimes forget how convenient they make our lives. Sounds of straining, grinding or buzzing can indicate that your opener is failing. 

Common Causes Noises from your garage door opener are most often signals that its motor is going out. The motor could be overheating or simply too old to respond promptly. You will likely encounter these issues more frequently if you have an older opener. 

Common indications that you need a new opener include: Failing to open the door. Excessive noise. Slow movement. 

Solutions Upgrading your garage door motor can quickly fix your opener issues. Newer models now offer quiet operation with direct current technology, keypads, backup batteries and additional security. Berry Door technicians have multiple garage door opener options available to give you a long-lasting and safe experience. Get excellent service at  Berry Garage Door Company At Berry Garage Door Company, we’re committed to going above and beyond in customer service. Our highly qualified technicians strive to make this process as quick and easy as possible for you. Our service area in the Puget Sound area Include, Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Burlington, Anacortes, San Juan Islands, Whidbey & Camano Islands, Stanwood, Arlington and Marysville 

Our Garage Door Service Locations: 

At Berry Garage Door Company, we work on garage doors in Bellingham, Stanwood, Camano & Whidbey Islands, The San Juans, Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon and Everywhere In Between. We know what a hassle it can be when your garage door stops working properly, and we have the services you need to remedy the issue. When it comes to noisy garage doors, we understand how this can be disconcerting and we are here to help. Homeowners & Business owners alike can count on the expert technicians at Berry Garage Door Company to properly evaluate a the issue lubricate, make adjustments or replacements where they’re necessary. Since we are local to our service locations, we will be able to provide you with fast service that you can rely on.

A noisy, garage door can be irritating at worst but rest assured we can help out. At Berry Garage Door Company, we have the know-how and experience to finely tune your garage door securely and safely for any make or model. And for all of our garage door repair services, we offer free quotes and warrantied workmanship.

Call Us Today For An Appointment! 360-671-5121 

Whatcom County: Bellingham,    Ferndale, Lummi Island, Lynden 

Skagit County: Mount Vernon, Burlington, Bow, Sedro Wooley, Anacortes 

Island County: Camano Island, Whidbey Island 

San Juan County: Orcas Island, San Juan Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island 

Snohomish County: Stanwood, Arlington, Marysville