Whistling, rattling, clanking – these noises from your garage door don’t just happen by chance. They’re signals that something’s off and need your attention. With Canada’s extreme climate – bitter cold, scorching heat, and constant temperature swings – garage door components are under constant stress. Whether you’re dealing with an older system or considering garage door repair in Calgary, this guide can help.
In this article, we’ll go over the most common reasons garage doors get noisy and what you can do about it.
1. Lack of Lubrication
One of the top culprits behind garage door noise is dry or rusty metal parts. Rollers, hinges, tracks, and springs all need to be lubricated regularly. Without proper lubrication, friction builds up and you’ll start to hear squeaking, rattling, or even high-pitched squealing when the door moves.
What to do:
Apply silicone or lithium-based grease to all moving metal components.
Important: A lot of people think WD-40 is a good fix – but it’s not. It’s actually a water-displacing cleaner, not a true lubricant. It may seem like it works at first, but it quickly strips away any existing grease, making the problem worse within days. Even worse, WD-40 can damage your system over time – rollers, springs, and tracks lose their lubrication, and rubber components like seals and gaskets dry out and crack.
In places like Calgary, where seasonal shifts are dramatic, it’s especially important to service garage doors in Calgary before winter hits and again in spring.
2. Worn Rollers
Rollers are the small wheels that glide along the tracks. Plastic rollers tend to crack with age and make rattling noises. Metal ones can grind when they rust or wear down.
What to do:
Inspect the rollers for cracks or looseness. Upgrade to nylon rollers with ball bearings—they’re quieter, smoother, and more durable in Canadian weather.
3. Loose Hardware
Each time your garage door opens or closes, it vibrates slightly. Over time, nuts, bolts, and screws loosen up, causing parts to rattle and shake.
What to do:
Disconnect the opener and inspect all fasteners by hand – rails, hinges, brackets. Tighten anything that feels loose.
4. Spring Issues
Garage door springs bear a lot of weight and tension. If you hear loud metal clanks or groaning noises, the springs may be worn out or out of balance.
What to do:
Never attempt to fix or adjust the springs yourself – it’s extremely dangerous and can lead to serious injury or even death. Always call a professional. Canada has strict safety codes for spring-related repairs.
5. Malfunctioning Opener
If your garage door is automatic, the noise could be coming from the motor or the chain/belt drive. Worn gears or a sagging chain can cause grinding or slapping noises.
What to do:
Check if the chain is too loose. If the sound is coming from the motor housing, it may need a full diagnostic. In some cases, replacing the opener with a modern, quieter belt-drive system is the best option.
6. Unbalanced Door
If your door isn’t properly balanced, one side can drag or move unevenly. This misalignment adds strain to the system and can lead to cracking, grinding, or even getting stuck.
Sign to look for:
Disconnect the opener and manually lift the door halfway. If it stays in place, it’s balanced. If it falls or shoots upward, the balance is off.
Solution:
Only a trained technician should adjust the balance. It’s a delicate process that can cause injury if done wrong.
7. Weather Effects
Canadian winters are tough on garage doors. Ice, snow, and road salt can wear down the rollers and tracks, while humidity promotes rust and corrosion.
What to do:
Do seasonal maintenance in the spring and fall. Clear ice buildup, clean the tracks, and check weather stripping. Insulated garage doors also help reduce cold-related damage and noise.
When to Call a Professional?
If you’ve gone through all the above steps and the noise is still there, it might be a more serious issue such as:
- Worn torsion springs
- A damaged track
- Loose or misaligned door panels
- Opener malfunction
Don’t ignore it – noise is often the first sign of a major breakdown. A trained technician can identify the root cause and prevent costly repairs later on.
Conclusion
A noisy garage door isn’t just an annoyance – it’s a warning sign. Stay ahead of costly repairs by performing regular maintenance, especially during seasonal changes. Lubricate, inspect, and replace worn components as needed. And when in doubt, leave it to the professionals. It’s safer, smarter, and can save you money in the long run.
