A well-maintained and properly functioning overhead garage door is a thing of beauty. You pull up to your garage and the door glides open smoothly and without complaint. That's the theory, anyway. If you've dealt with garage doors for any length of time you know that things don't always work perfectly. As garage doors age they can become noisy and that smooth gliding action turns into something more like a lumbering, uneven shamble.

Not every noise that a garage door makes means that something is seriously wrong, so it can be helpful to learn about the different parts of your door that might be causing trouble. Some of these noises are easy enough for a handy do-it-yourselfer to fix while others definitely warrant attention from a professional.

Vibration Noises

Garage doors are fairly heavy and inevitably create vibrations as they open and close. If the entire door assembly seems noisy, then it's possible that you are hearing sounds created by the garage door vibrating as it opens and closes. This likely isn't a serious problem and can likely be resolved by checking the fasteners on the door and tracks. Loose bolts can cause these metal parts to vibrate against the garage as the door opens and closes. Bolts that have become loose are likely to loosen more over time, so try to deal with this problem as soon as you notice it.

Roller Noises

Anywhere that metal moves against metal is likely to create noise. In particular, metal rollers may make a lot of noise as they move along the metal tracks. There isn't much you can do to quiet metal rollers down other than replacing them with nylon rollers.

Chain Noises

A loose garage door chain is likely to create rattling and slapping sounds as the door opens and closes. It should be relatively easy to identify the chain as the source of the noise simply by standing in the garage as you open the door. If you have identified the chain as the source of noise, first tighten the chain as needed and then thoroughly clean and lubricate it. Noises from the chain rarely indicate a problem that can't be taken care of with basic maintenance.

Hinge Noises

Problems with hinges are less common, but if you have already dealt with other likely noise culprits, then the hinges should be investigated next. If you suspect that your hinges are the source of a noisy door, start by spraying them with some garage door lubricant. If this doesn't solve the problem, then it is possible that the hinges have become worn. Worn hinges can potentially cause other components of the door to wear out over time, so replacing them as early as possible is important both to quiet your door down and to save money over the long run.

Contact a professional business like Automatic Door Company to learn more.