The garage door got loud: grinding, rattling and squeaking

Who they are

Ben is a new homeowner with a toolbox and a habit of fixing things himself before he calls anyone.

Their home and door

A two-car garage whose bedroom sits right above it, so every noise the door makes comes through the floor.

What went wrong

The door started squeaking and grinding on every open and close. His first idea was a can of WD-40.

What they searched

• “can you use wd40 on garage door rollers”
• “can i use too much lubricant on my garage door?”
• “do you lubricate garage door springs”

What they learned

• A squeak usually means moving parts that need lubrication. Grinding can come from tracks out of line or worn gears in the opener, and a rattle means something has come loose. Source: Why is my garage door so noisy?
• Clopay says to avoid WD-40 and oil-based lubricants because they draw dirt and dust. Use a spray made for garage doors, the type your door maker’s manual names, sparingly, on the parts Wayne Dalton’s manual names: hinges, steel rollers and bearings. Source: Should you use WD-40 on a garage door?
• Clopay says not to lubricate the tracks. Wipe them with a damp cloth instead. Source: How often should you lubricate your garage door?
• A loud bang or pop from the spring area is different: stop using the door. Source: Why is my garage door so noisy?