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3 Quick Fix DIY – Squeaky Door Hinges

Doors get a LOT of use around the house. We literally go in and out of them constantly! Sometimes all that wear can cause doors to either get squeaky or to get sticky, depending on what’s going on with them. In order to fix your door hinges, you just need a few minutes.

Photo credit: racheocity via Foter.com / CC BY-ND

Here are three ways to quickly banish squeaky or sticky door hinges – DIY style.

1. WD-40

Grab a can of WD-40 and go to town on those hinges. This is your first line of defense, and it’s usually going to work well. Spray the product right into the hinges, then move the door back and forth. You should immediately feel the door loosen as you work it in.

2. Petroleum Jelly

This isn’t as good as WD-40, but it’ll still work. Rub a pea-sized bit of petroleum jelly on the door hinges and then move the door back and forth as with the WD-40. Again, you should feel the door loosen up quickly.

3. Three-in-one oil

You’ll find three-in-one oil at any hardware store – just ask about it. To use this, you’ll have to lift the pins in the hinge halfway up, then lubricate them with the oil and push them back in. Be sure to use a cloth to catch drips as this product can cause stains.

With just a couple of minutes of DIY home magic, your door hinges won’t be a squeaky, stick problem!

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5 Tips for Quieting a Noisy Garage Door

Over time garage doors can start to make an incredible noise. Not only is it annoying, it can lead you to think that you’ve got something seriously wrong with your garage door. More often than not, a noisy garage door doesn’t actually indicate a bigger underlying problem, but something fairly cosmetic. Still, it’s better to go ahead and get the noise gone if possible for your own peace of mind.

1. Tighten bolts and screws

Unplug the power before you start tightening bolts and screws. Check the door track for broken or loose screws and fasteners, tightening or replacing if needed.

2. Insulate your garage door

Homeowners often opt for non-insulated steel garage doors out of a concern for cost. Unfortunately, non-insulated doors are often noisier than insulated doors. You don’t have to go to the expense of replacing the door though, you can purchase Styrofoam insulation panels and attach them to do the door yourself. This can often solve a noisy garage door problem.

3. Check garage door struts

The long aluminum rails that go across the width of a garage door are called struts. Over time these can need tweaking in order to improve the garage door performance and reduce noise. If your garage door doesn’t have struts, you can call your garage door service provider to see about installing them.

4. Replace garage door rollers

The steel or plastic rollers that are a part of many garage doors can wear out over time and cause a great deal of noise and vibration. Nylon rollers are quieter and more durable than any other option.

5. Lubricate moving parts

Garage doors are inconsistent motion. Over time these moving parts need lubrication in order to function more effectively and quietly. Don’t reach for the WD40 though as it will dry out these parts. Instead, look for a garage door lubricant that’s specially formulated for this purpose. Lubricate the pulleys, the tracks, the rollers, the hinges, and the springs. Not only will lubrication cut down on the noise – it will also lengthen the life of your garage door.

A little DIY garage door maintenance can go a long way in helping you to have fewer problems with your garage doors.  Quieter garage doors are possible!

If all these tips fail and you decided to replace your squeaky garage door with a new one, check out this Garage Door Service. They specialize in replacing residential and commercial overhead garage doors.