When your garage door starts rattling and shaking when it opens or closes, there are many places you can begin to look for the problem so that you can effectively work on garage door opener repair. While you should hire a trained technician to look at your garage door system for you, the good news is that most fixes for this problem are simple and generally aren't the result of any major problems.
Track Hardware Issues
If your garage doors use a track system, there are many issues that could cause your door to shake and rattle when they open and close.
The first potential is that the tracks themselves are out of alignment. If the tracks aren't aligned, this puts uneven pressure on different parts of the door, so the door won't open smoothly. In any of the wheels are catching on part of the tracks as a result, the door will rattle every time a wheel gets stuck and is then forcefully pulled free from the building pressure.
Another issue could be poorly maintained wheel bearings and lack of lubrication. Your garage door system requires regular maintenance to keep working properly, and that includes all the small parts. If your tracks are perfectly aligned but the wheel bearings are getting stuck, the door will have the same problems with resistance. Make sure all bearings and hinges are well lubricated, though take care not to lubricate the inside of the track itself; the wheels need traction to help carry the weight of the door.
Failing Springs or Pulleys
Your springs carry the brunt of the weight of your garage door, which can be up to several hundred pounds depending on the material and size. Over time they can gradually lose tension, and when this happens, your garage door opener will have a harder time moving the door. A standard spring will usually give your door at least a few thousand cycles -- where one time opening and one time closing counts as one cycle -- so if you have springs that haven't been replaced in a few years, they may be starting to show their age and need tightening or replacement.
There may also be some wear and tear on the pulley system that helps move the door. Examine the pulley cords and moving parts for any signs of damage, such as dents or bending or fraying.
Sticky Weatherstripping
In some cases, the protective seal designed to keep the elements out of your garage can end up working against your garage door. Check the outside of your garage door and look at the weatherstripping on all sides. If you press your door inward slightly, it should move freely of the weatherstripping easily. If it feels sticky, or if it takes effort to separate the door from the stripping, this could be the issue. If it takes effort to push the door directly away from the weatherstripping, it's so much more difficult to try to pull the door parallel to it.
This can sometimes be fixed with something as easy as lubricant or jelly. You may need to replace your weatherstripping if it's badly damaged, but it's a comparatively small price to pay.
Share26 September 2018
I'm Megan Moore. I have always been very security-conscious ever since I woke up to find an intruder rummaging through my belongings in my living room. I never wanted this to happen again, so I purchased a state-of-the-art security system. But despite the security measures that I put in place, my home was still burglarized. The problem was with my garage door. Somehow, a burglar was able to get the code to the garage door opener. I realized that my garage was my weak link and I set out to learn everything I could about garage doors and garage door security.