Is a noisy garage door dangerous to keep using?

Noise is worth paying attention to because it often shows up before a part fails. The key is the type of noise, whether it is new, and whether the door still moves smoothly and evenly.

Stop using the door if

• You heard a loud bang. That is often a spring breaking. See what a loud bang from a garage door means.
• The door jerks, shudders or stops partway.
• It hangs crooked or one side moves ahead of the other.
• You hear grinding or scraping along the track.
• A cable looks slack or frayed, or a roller has left the track.

Probably safe to use, but worth addressing

• Light squeaking from hinges or rollers on a door that runs smoothly. Routine lubrication of the right parts may quiet it.
• Rattling from hardware that has worked loose over time.
• A steady hum or chain noise from an older opener that otherwise works normally.

When to book an inspection

A noise that is new, getting louder or still there after lubrication deserves a look. It can come from worn rollers, hinges, drive parts or mounting hardware. A tune-up can take care of hardware that only needs adjusting, tightening and lubricating; parts that have failed need repair, which is quoted separately. For a guide to what each sound usually means, see why a garage door makes noise.

Read more

• Noisy garage door guide
• Garage door tune-up
• What to do with a broken garage door

Related questions

• Can I manually lock my garage door if the opener is broken?
• Can a garage door tune-up improve safety?
• What if the garage door release cord is stuck or hard to reach?
• Will opening a garage door manually damage it or void the warranty?
• Is it safe to open a garage door manually?

Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.