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How To Quiet A Manual Flap Dog Door
If the sound of the flap hitting the door is too loud for you, then there are a few ways that you can adjust it. The first is to install foam or some other kind of soundproofing to the flap. When the flap comes back to hit against the door, it will strike the soft foam instead. This will deaden the sound to the point where you may no longer hear it.
You may also want to look into switching out the material of the flap for another kind. The material is typically heavy for flap doors. This is to keep other animals from easily accessing your home. However, the heavy material can be the reason why the flap hits against the door hard and makes a noise.
Choosing a lighter material will make the flap hit the door with less noise. However, it may also make it easier for wildlife to pass through the door.
If you have a sensor attached to your manual flap door to indicate when something is passing through the door, then you can always opt for a sensor that doesn’t make a sound. Some sensors can set off a light instead.
How To Quiet An Electronic or Automatic Dog Door
Electronic, or automatic, dog doors can be quite noisy. The mechanisms within the door can whir and grind whenever the door is used. You can quiet the door by ensuring that it was installed incorrectly. One reason that the dog door may be making so much noise is that it wasn’t installed correctly. This may make the door rub against the larger door or cause it to create friction with the mechanisms within it.
Another reason your dog door may be making noise is that the parts are starting to wear out. Whether it be due to a faulty belt, cog, or some other mechanism, parts that are worn down will start to create friction between each other. They’ll rub against one another and make noises. Replacing those parts may make the door quieter.
The parts may also need to be lubricated. If you have brand new parts but they’re still making sounds, then you should try to add some oil or other lubrication to them. Without friction between the parts, they’re able to move more efficiently and generate less sound.
There isn’t much you can do if the noise is coming from the door closing and hitting the other side of the door. You can install some foam on the edge to see if that might deaden the sound.
If the door has an alert system whenever anything passes through it, then you can always turn that system off.
Finally, it may be worth it to research the noise level of the dog door that you want to buy. If noise is something you’re worried about, then look for a doggie door that generates the least noise possible.
Common Reasons For Noisy Dog Doors
There are a few reasons why your dog doors may be making noises. For a flap, or manual, door it may be because the flap isn’t aligned with the rest of the door correctly. When your dog passes through the door, the flap hits the walls or the door. It shouldn’t hit anything or, at the very least, should only brush the bottom part of the door.
Another reason the flap door may be noisy is if the flap material is too flimsy. This can make it hit the bottom of the door harder. The same thing can occur if the material is heavy. You’ll want a thick, but light, material for your flap.
There are also a few reasons why your electronic dog door might be generating noise. The first is that electronics just naturally make sounds. The buzzing of electricity or the whirring of parts within the door is to be expected. If they are especially loud, however, then it could be a sign that the parts are broken or worn down.
If the dog door is hitting the side edge or bottom edge hard, then it may be because the door wasn’t aligned properly.
Finally, the electronic door may be generating noise if the closing speed is programmed to close too quickly. This can make it slam shut.
Installed in Wall vs Door – Which Is Quieter?
Both doors will generate around the same noise regardless of their location. However, a wall may deaden the sound slightly. This is because a wall has insulation. If you choose to buy a dog door with insulation, then you can further deaden the noise it makes. Whenever the dog uses the door in the wall, the insulation all around it makes it harder for the sound to spread to the other parts of the home.
Doors are typically hollow and don’t have insulation. There’s nothing to help deaden the sound of the doggie door.
That being said, the location may also factor in how loud the dog door is. A dog door that is right next to you in the wall is likely going to be louder than a dog door that is installed on a door on the other side of the house, for example.
Automatic vs Manual Flap – Which is Quieter?
There are two main sounds associated with dog doors. For manual flap doors, it’s the physical slapping sound of the flap hitting the door. For automatic doors, it’s the electronic whirring of the inner mechanisms whenever they’re operational.
Flap doors can be quite loud when compared to electronic doors. If your dog tends to take off through the flap door, then the slapping sound can be quite loud.
Electronic doors are typically quieter. However, you may find a brand that has extremely loud doors whenever they open. Some electronic doors may also emit a beeping noise or some sort of other sounds when it identifies your dog through its sensor and allows the door to open for it.
Your best chance for a quiet door, in the end, is with an electronic dog door.
My name is Ken and I’m one of the staff writers at Petloverguy.com. I’ve cared for pets most of my life starting with hamsters, turtles, and snakes. Then moving up to parakeets, guinea pigs, and even ducks.
I currently live with two yorkies and a chihuahua mix.