Creaking Poles
Whilst a creaking pole can be the sign of something damaged or broken this is very rare and usually the reason for it is as has been mentioned.
A build up of dirt, grit, etc is the most common reason that a pole would start to creak. As we get into winter I always notice that the poles I work with start picking up more muck and dirt on the pole hose which often ends up inside the pole.
How can this be sorted? A good preventative method is to wipe down the pole hose as the pole is packed away each time - as the hose is coiled back up simply wipe off with a cloth in one hand.
Every so often it is worth hosing down the pole to flush out dirt trapped between the sections. Not only will this stop creaking, but it will help cut down on wear and prolong the life of the pole. Some clients do this regularly once a week which is good practise. I tend to only do it when the pole feels scratchy or if I have just worked on sand. To do this I partially open the each section and leave the clamp open then with the pole almost flat on the ground I fill the whole pole with water from a hose. When the water starts to pour out the other end I lift the pole up to allow the water to flush out. I do this several times and then finish off with a spray of water up the gap around each clamp.
Ideally the best way is to dismantle every section from each other, flush fully through, allow to dry and then spray the overlap area with dry-film PTFE before re-assembling. Clients who do this regularly have the advantage of being able to check the condition of the joint-stop tape and replace when needed but also they tend to have poles that do not wear out very quickly. I saw a pole the other day that had received this treatment right the way through its life every week and at 2 years old it looked almost new still - personally I do not do this, but in an ideal world I should.
