A noisy garage door is annoying, and it's often an early warning that something needs attention. The good news is that most squeaks and rattles can be fixed with basic cleaning, lubrication and tightening.

What the noise is telling you

  • Squeaking or squealing: dry rollers, hinges or bearings that need lubricating.
  • Rattling: loose nuts, bolts or brackets, or a loose motor rail.
  • Grinding: worn rollers, debris in the tracks, or a motor gear wearing out.
  • Banging or popping: a spring problem or a door that's out of balance. Have this checked by a technician.

Step 1: Clean before you lubricate

Turn the motor off at the wall. Wipe the tracks, rollers and hinges with a dry cloth to remove dust, leaves and old grease. Lubricating over dirt just turns it into grinding paste.

Step 2: Use the right lubricant

Use a silicone spray or a lubricant made for garage doors. Avoid heavy grease and general-purpose oils, which attract dirt.

  • Sectional doors: apply a light spray to the hinges, roller bearings and the spring (not the tracks themselves).
  • **Roller doors:** a light silicone spray on the inside of the guide tracks helps the curtain slide quietly. Don't use grease on roller door tracks.
  • Motor rails and chains: follow the motor manufacturer's instructions.

Run the door up and down a few times to spread the lubricant, then wipe off any excess.

Step 3: Tighten loose hardware

Check the hinge screws, track brackets and motor mounting bolts, and tighten anything loose with a spanner or socket. Don't loosen or adjust anything attached to the springs or cables. Those parts are under high tension.

Step 4: Check rollers and weather seals

Cracked or flat-spotted rollers on a sectional door will grind no matter how much you lubricate them. A worn bottom seal can also slap against the floor. Both are inexpensive to replace during a service.

When noise means it's time for a service

If the door is still noisy after cleaning and lubricating, or you hear banging, grinding from the motor or see the door jerking, book a service. A technician will check the spring tension, door balance and motor, and catch small problems before they become breakdowns.