Repairing that Noisy Garage Door

Heavy springs power its upward movement

If your garage door makes a noise like a cat with its tail caught in the door, or a thunder storm on a wild weather night, it’s a sure sign that it needs some attention. Garage door repairs come down to one of two parts: The problem is with the garage door or with the garage door opener.

Overhead garage doors roll up in two or three sections or they swing overhead as one piece. In either case, the garage door operates on a tension spring. The door is guided on its ascent along metal tracks attached to the walls on either side of the garage door space. Heavy springs power its upward movement. If the door no longer moves smoothly, there are several problems you can troubleshoot to save you some time and money.

First, check the tracks and the brackets that hold them. Tighten loose bolts or screws. Look for irregularities in the tracks. Use a rubber mallet to pound out dents or folds. If the damage can’t be pounded out, the tracks may require replacement. If tracks do not appear damaged, they could be off level and need to be realigned.

Do this by loosening screws or bolts holding the mounting brackets, and tapping the tracks into position with the rubber mallet. Once you’ve checked to make sure they are level, retighten the screws or bolts on the mounting brackets. If the problem is not corrected than the job is more complicated, requiring a professional, like the ones at Garage Door Repair Crosby.

The problem may be dirt on the tracks and rollers. If possible, remove built up dirt and grease with a strong household cleanser. Wipe dry.

Do a final check on hardware to make sure nothing is loose. Check springs and mounting plates. Tighten all screws just to be sure. If screw holes have become enlarged replace with larger screws and use wood filler around the hole to make things solid.