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Keeping Your Garage Door Working

After I moved into a new home, I realized that there were some real problems with our garage door. It didn't always open easily, and when it did, it seemed to have issues closing all the way. I knew that we had to do something, so I started looking around for a place that offered garage door service. I was able to find an incredible business that offered garage door sales and service, and they helped us to find replacement parts that could resolve the issues. This blog is all about keeping your garage door working well and avoiding repair costs in the long run.

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Keeping Your Garage Door Working

Four Ways to Reduce the Noise Level When Operating Your Garage Door

by Perry Wilson

Noisy garage doors can be annoying, but homeowners shouldn't feel like they have to live with the clatter and clanging. Below are four things you can do to reduce the noise produced by a loud garage door.

Lubricate Appropriately

Garage door lubrication is a sensitive issue, because many homeowners fail to use the correct lubricants on their doors. Lubricants designed for protecting metal surfaces from rust can make the problem worse by displacing heavier oils and grease.

Instead, use a product designed specifically for garage door lubrication. If you can't locate such a product, use a lightweight grease, such as spray lithium grease. The results will be more satisfying and longer lasting, and you won't need to constantly reapply lubricant to keep the door quiet.

Use a Belt or Screw Drive

If your garage door is loud, one of the most effective steps you can take to reduce the noise is replacing the chain drive with a belt or screw drive. Belt drive garage door openers use a flexible rubber belt that moves the door up and down, while screw drives utilize a long, threaded steel rod. Both are much quieter than the less-expensive, but loud, chain drive door opener.

Increase Door Rigidity

Another source of noise in a garage door is excessive flexing of door panels. This can increase over time due to metal fatigue and as the door loosens during operation.

Fortunately, you can restore some of the lost door stiffness by adding door struts. These long pieces of metal are placed horizontally across the door and create rigidity. Chances are likely your door has a few struts, but you can probably add one or two more; contact a garage door installer or service company like Aladdin Doors of Raleigh for help with adding struts.

Replace Loud Rollers

Garage door rollers undergo a tremendous amount of strain and stress during usage, especially if they bind or catch on the rails. This can cause them to wear out prematurely and make a lot of noise in the process. As for metal rollers, which don't wear out as quickly as plastic ones, they are inherently noisy and tend to clatter a lot if the door is older.

Rollers are a relatively inexpensive and simple fix in most cases, and you can decrease the noise level from the beginning by purchasing nylon rollers. These are durable, yet quiet, and will immediately make a big difference in the amount of noise reduction provided.

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