Why a garage door is noisy, by sound

A garage door makes noise for a reason, and the type of sound narrows it down. Some noises are a lubrication job, and some mean a broken spring or a damaged part. This guide matches common sounds to likely causes, and shows when to stop using the door.

The sound is the best clue you have. Manufacturers and door companies describe the same set of noises, and each points to a different part. Use the table as a starting point, not a diagnosis. Several causes can sound alike.

These come from Clopay, Creative Door and DASMA. Your door may differ, so check your model's manual too.

Clopay ties squeaking and creaking to dry moving parts, metal rubbing on metal between dried-out rollers and tracks, or worn rollers or hinges. DASMA adds that springs can squeak and be noisy as a result of normal use, and that this does not necessarily indicate a problem. If noise persists after lubricating, DASMA advises calling a professional installer.

Lubricate with the right product. Clopay and Creative Door both advise silicone-based spray or lithium grease and not WD-40, which Clopay says is not actually a lubricant. Start with the rollers where they meet the tracks, then the hinges. Use a light coat and wipe off the excess. Overhead Door adds that tracks themselves should not be greased, because it can make rollers slip. Do not lubricate the springs yourself. See what to lubricate on a garage door.

Grinding often comes from poorly lubricated or worn-out rollers, according to Creative Door. It can also come from worn or cracked hinges, which Creative Door calls a safety hazard needing immediate professional replacement, or from misaligned tracks that force rollers to drag, per Clopay. Clopay also names worn opener gears.

Rattling usually means hardware has loosened with vibration. Clopay and Creative Door say a loose chain on a chain-drive opener can rattle as well, and Creative Door notes chain-drive openers are louder than belt-drive openers. Clopay says a chain that drags or a belt that shrieks needs a professional. See chain, belt, screw and direct-drive openers.

If metal rollers are the source, Clopay suggests nylon rollers as a quieter upgrade, and Creative Door calls nylon the clear winner for silent operation. See nylon vs steel rollers and bent or misaligned tracks.

Clopay says popping is a sign of spring trouble and to call a professional immediately. Creative Door says popping can be a torsion spring locking up over time and that adjusting torsion springs is very dangerous. A loud bang like a car backfiring is a broken spring, per Clopay.

A door that bangs or clangs may also have loose or broken hardware, per Clopay. Never adjust hardware connected to the spring system, since springs carry extreme tension.

Only do these if the door sits level in its tracks and you have heard no bang. Creative Door advises disconnecting the opener before troubleshooting so nobody can operate the door.

1. Note the sound, when it happens in the travel and which side it comes from. Record a short video if you can.
2. Look at the tracks and rollers for dirt, debris or a roller that looks worn or loose.
3. Look at the hinges and brackets for loose or cracked parts. Do not touch the bottom bracket.
4. Check visible nuts and bolts on the door and the opener mounting, without touching spring parts. Do not overtighten, which Clopay says can strip threads or damage the door.
5. Lubricate rollers and hinges with a light coat of silicone spray or lithium grease. Skip the springs, cables and tracks.
6. Listen again. If the noise persists, leave it for a technician.

Do not oil the cables or touch the springs. Never adjust, repair or remove hinges yourself, which Creative Door says can let the door fall when the bottom bracket is removed.

• Popping, a loud bang, or a door that is heavy, crooked or out of balance.
• Grinding that does not stop after lubrication.
• Noise that continues after basic maintenance, per Clopay.
• Cracked or worn hinges, a roller out of the track, or a bent track. See garage door off its track.
• A frayed cable. See frayed or snapped cable.
• An opener chain that drags or a belt that shrieks, or noise that comes from the motor unit.

Our technicians inspect the rollers, hinges, tracks, springs and opener, confirm the cause first, and make the repair. See roller replacement, maintenance and tune-ups and opener repair. DASMA recommends an annual visit from a trained door systems technician to keep a door running safely and smoothly. See annual maintenance checklist.

• Garage Door Roller Replacement
• Garage Door Maintenance and Tune-Ups
• Garage Door Opener Repair

• Clopay: How to fix a noisy garage door
• Creative Door: Troubleshoot a noisy garage door by type of noise
• DASMA: Garage door safety information
• Creative Door: Steel vs nylon garage door rollers
• Overhead Door Company: Track alignment and adjustment