Home Repair Handyman, Home Repair Tips

Home Repair Handyman:

Quiet Down That Noisy Garage Door Opener

Here are some simple steps for a home repair handyman to quiet a noisy garage door opener.  If it seems like a jetliner is landing on your house every time the garage door opener operates here are few home repair tips you can do yourself that will help.

• First – unplug the garage door opener from its power source to make sure it does not accidentally open – always remember to take proper safety precautions when doing home repairs yourself.  You may need a sturdy step ladder for this and other the other steps.
• Second – place the stepladder under your garage door opener motor. Build up wood blocks on top of the ladder or use other material to firmly hold the motor in place while completing the next steps.
• Now unbolt the motor and slowly lower the motor onto the step ladder and the blocks of wood.  Then disconnect the garage door opener track from the wall and temporarily support it.
• Place s 3/8-1/2 inch thick rubber gasket or similar material behind the garage door opener track wall bracket. It will be easier to re-install the wall bracket if you pre-drill the holes in the gasket before putting it in place. Reinstall the blots and make sure the bracket is secure and holding tight.  If you don’t feel the bolts are holding tight you can try longer bolts or moving the bracket over an inch or so and pre-drill new holes for the bolts. Be careful not to oversize the holes when you pre-drill.
• Now make 2 more rubber gaskets that will work for the mounting straps the garage door motor attaches to.  After installing these gaskets re-hang the motor from the mounting straps making sure all bolts are tightened securely.  The rubber gaskets are acting like a shock absorber to help cut down the excess vibration and noise.
• Finally you can remove the blocks and step ladder, plug the opener back in and give it a try.  With the gaskets acting as shock absorbers you should notice a significant difference in the noise and vibration.

A visit to your local Lowe’s Home Improvement Center, Home Depot Store or local hardware store will be all you need to pick up the gasket material and longer bolts you might need.

Following the simple home repair tips above should lessen the noise and vibration from your garage door opener and make you a hero home repair handyman.