A discrete getaway or arrival can easily be thwarted by a clattering, screeching garage door. A noisy garage door not only makes it tough to leave or arrive quietly but also can be a major pain for the neighbors. If you have anyone living above your garage, they'll likely appreciate some relief from the constant noise.

You won't eliminate every single noise your garage door makes, but these tips can help reduce the racket to a major extent.


Lubrication plays an important role in reducing excess noise and vibrations. Without proper lubrication, your garage door becomes vulnerable to noise-inducing rust and corrosion. Lubrication also reduces excessive metal-on-metal contact that not only produces excess noise but also causes garage door components to wear out faster.

It's a good idea to lubricate your garage door's various moving parts as a part of your annual maintenance regimen. Be sure to use lubricants recommended by your garage door manufacturer. White lithium grease and silicone-based lubricants are appropriate for most garage doors.
Steer clear of so-called "water-displacing" lubricants such as WD-40, as these products are not particularly effective when it comes to long-term performance.

Vibration Isolation

As your garage door opens and closes, it also generates plenty of vibration. These vibrations reverberate throughout the entire structure, sometimes causing the nuts and bolts holding your garage door components together to back out. This intensifies the vibrations, causing more noise, more vibrations and the eventual detachment of a crucial garage door component.

Dealing with noise-causing vibrations involves a two-pronged approach, starting with your garage door's nuts and bolts. You'll want to make sure that each one is tightened according to the specs given by your garage door manufacturer. Replace missing fasteners as quickly as possible.
Next, you'll want to isolate the vibrations as much as possible. You can do this with rubber washers, pads and spacers that will isolate and absorb vibrations. In addition to using rubber washers between each fastener, you should use rubber pads or mounting straps to physically isolate the garage door opener from the rest of the garage door structure. 

Roller Replacement

Steel rollers are the default choice for many garage doors. While these rollers are valued for their durability and low cost, they're also exceptionally noisy. The characteristic clatter of steel rollers on a steel track can become unbearable over time, especially as the rollers develop flat spots due to cumulative wear and tear.

Switching from steel to nylon rollers can help reduce garage door noise to a significant degree. Nylon is a quieter material that also offers the same degree of durability as ordinary steel. In addition, most nylon rollers include sealed bearings that don't require frequent lubrication, thus reducing the amount of maintenance needed.

Opener Replacement

Chain-driven garage door openers are well-known for being reliable and durable. They're also known for being noisy, especially as they get older. You can try to minimize noise by keeping your chain well lubricated and tightening it up as it stretches and loses tension from use. However, there's only so far you can go with a typical chain-driven opener.

A better way to reduce noise is to replace your existing chain-driven opener with a belt-driven unit. Belt-driven garage door openers offer smoother and quieter operation, producing far less vibration and drivetrain shock than similar chain-driven units.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind about belt-driven garage door openers versus their chain-driven counterparts. For starters, they're a bit more expensive than the average chain-driven unit. Most belts also tend to have a shorter overall lifespan than a comparable drive chain. Nevertheless, belt-driven openers make a worthwhile investment when it comes to noise reduction.

Want to learn more tips about keeping your garage door quiet? Then don't hesitate to contact the experts at Eudy Door Co. We can take care of just about any garage door installation or maintenance task.