If you have a garage door that suddenly starts making rattling and banging noises as you open it, then you may think that you have a major issue that needs to be repaired. This may be the case if the automatic door is over 15 years old or if you have not invested in regular maintenance. However, if you have taken relatively good care of the garage door, then you may only need to complete a few simple fixes to reduce noises. Keep reading to learn about a few things that you should try.
Add Padding
When your garage door opener is first installed, it is secured near the top of the ceiling. This allows for the correct placement of the track and belt mechanism that runs horizontally from the opener to the top of the garage door. To help with the placement of the opener, two separate brackets are connected to the opener. In some cases, the motor will need to be placed very close to the garage ceiling during installation. A low ceiling or the installation of a tall or large garage door may require this. To help keep the motor from knocking against the ceiling, pads are placed between the motor and ceiling. The pads may wear down over time or extra material may be needed to soften the vibrations. To help prevent noises in this situation, replace the padding.
Use a ladder to reach your garage door motor and remove the old padding if there is any. Afterwards, measure the space between the opener and the ceiling. Go to your local home store and look for a small anti-vibration mat or pad that will fit into the space. If you cannot find one of these pads, then go to your local appliance store and ask for a pad made to absorb the vibrations from underneath a washing machine. Some of the pads you find may be made out of cork and rubber materials. If possible, purchase an all rubber option. Cut the mat down to size and push it into the space between the garage door opener and the ceiling. If you need to adhere the mat in place, then think about using a small amount of rubber cement to secure the mat to the ceiling.
Check The Bolts
While you are on the ladder securing your rubber mat in place, think about checking to see if the bracket bolts that hold the opener in place are loose. Loose bolts can cause rattling noises as well. Check the bolts that attach to the ceiling as well as the ones that attach to the opener itself. If they are loose, then use a socket wrench to tighten them. You also should think about replacing the bolts if they appear rusty or degraded in any way.
Inspect The Drive Chains
Some garage doors will have chains that are activated by the garage door opener to pull open and lower the garage door. These chains go through a great deal of wear and tear and they must be lubricated properly to make sure they do not make noises as the separate links move during operation. If you have not lubricated the chains in some time, then consider buying a bicycle chain lubricant. One of the best products to purchase is a polytetrafluoroethylene based lubricant that can help the chain withstand a great deal of friction. Place a generous amount of the lubricant directly along the top of the chain and allow it to seep into it. You may need to hold a cotton rag underneath the chain to collect the lubricant that runs off the chain.
Once you have lubricated the chain, lower or raise the garage door to see if noises have stopped. If they have not, then the chain may have stretched out over time. This can cause noises where the chain hits the top track or the inside of the garage door opener. You will need to contact your garage door specialist to remove one or several links from the chain to resolve the noise problem. Companies like A AAA Allstate Door Company may be able to meet your needs in this area.
