Your garage door system is designed to be convenient, letting you quickly leave and enter the garage each day. But if the garage door is moving slow, you might be wasting time. With most residential garage doors taking between 12 and 15 seconds to open and close, if your garage door opens more slowly, there might be an issue that needs to be addressed.
In this post, we’ll be addressing several common questions related to high-speed commercial garage doors, how to oil garage doors, why is my garage door opening slowly, and more.
To begin with, the following steps can help you to identify why your garage door is slow to open and get your door moving quickly again.
Why Is My Garage Door Opening Slowly?
Here are five reasons why your garage door might be moving slowly:
- Old Parts
If your garage door is moving slow, it could be due to parts that are getting old and worn out. Over time, springs lose tension, pulleys wear out, and the entire opening system can become less efficient. A professional like Thompson Garage Doors can assess if repair or garage door panel replacement is needed. Upgrading to a modern opener can improve cycling speed and overall longevity.
- Improper Speed Setting
Some garage door openers come with speed control settings, often set at the lowest level for safety. Check your owner’s manual to see if your opener has this feature and learn how to adjust it safely. Thompson Garage Doors can also assist in selecting and setting the best speed if you prefer expert help.
- Insufficient Lubrication
Regular lubrication is crucial for a smoothly operating garage door. This prevents friction during opening and closing, extends the lifespan of parts, and saves on unnecessary repairs. You can use silicone or lithium grease spray for DIY lubrication, but avoid using WD-40. Alternatively, we offer preventive maintenance, including lubrication and a system inspection, helping catch and fix small issues before they become major problems. Keep reading if you have questions about how to oil garage door.
- Worn Tracks
The daily wear and tear on your garage door’s tracks, along with exposure to the elements and potential damage from vehicles, can lead to bent or damaged tracks. This can result in slower door movement. Garage door repair professionals can replace or repair tracks to ensure smooth operation. You can consult a service for garage door repair in Sparks, NV to know more.
- Damaged Opener
Beyond springs and tracks, the garage door opener itself can contribute to slowing down. Aging openers may experience worm drive gears, motor issues, or slower operation during power backup use. A professional can diagnose and address these problems.
Understanding these potential causes can help you identify the issue and decide on the best course of action for your garage door. Remember, your local garage door repair in Reno, NV is just a call away. Call Thompson Garage Door for prompt assistance.
Garage Door Is Moving Slow: What You Can Do
If your garage door is opening slowly, you should certainly call the professionals to look into the issue. But before that, do the following to better assess the condition of your door.
- Check the Hinges
Take a look at your door’s hinges. Are any missing or damaged? If so, they might struggle to support the door’s weight, making it open slower. A little oil can go a long way in keeping things moving smoothly.
- Examine the Springs
Are the springs stretched out or broken? If they are, opening the door will be a slow ordeal. Springs are tricky, so it’s safer to let the professionals experienced in garage door repair in Sparks, NV handle them to avoid accidents.
- Inspect the Opener Cables
Slow garage door? Check for tangled or damaged cables. These can mess with your opener and cause it to malfunction. For cable issues, it’s best to call in the experts.
- Tighten up Screws and Bolts
If you spot any loose screws or bolts on the opener or other components, give them a good tightening. This prevents future mishaps and ensures everything stays securely in place.
Garage Door Slow to Open? Tips to Fix It
- Change the Door Speed Setting
While there are different types of garage door openers, most of them have multiple speed settings, and they’re usually preset to the slowest speed. Your overhead door’s speed settings are often located inside of the opening mechanism’s housing.
The owner’s manual should provide ample information on accessing and checking the door’s speed settings. In some cases, just changing the setting to a high-speed option will speed up your garage door. Of course, you can go for local garage door repair in Reno, NV for expert assistance with this problem.
- Focus on Maintenance
Proper maintenance and lubrication also play an important role in your garage door’s speed. You’ll need to regularly lubricate the tracks, hinges, and rollers to keep the door moving smoothly. If those elements start to get too dry, the door can stick as it moves. In that case, you might not only have a slow-moving door, but also a door that moves irregularly and that could even get stuck.
- How to Oil Garage Door
This is usually done by a technician during regular maintenance, but if you’re comfortable with DIY tasks, you can do it yourself. Here’s a simple guide:
Close the garage door and clean any grease or grime from the tracks, brackets, and hinges.
To lubricate the system, start by applying a few drops of the penetrating oil to the hinge seams. If you need to reach the upper hinges, use a stepladder safely. If using a spray, wear goggles and a dust mask. You’ll only need a little bit of oil, and you should apply it to the top of the seams so it works its way down into the seams.
You’ll need to also apply oil to the roller mount brackets and roller pin seams, mounted on the door. Do the same to the track, but don’t apply oil to the track if your door has nylon rollers.
You’ll need a ladder for the process, and it’s important to make sure that you lubricate both sides of the door and track system. Once you’ve applied the oil, open and close the door a few times to help spread the oil out. Keep a rag available so you can wipe up any spills, and remove any excess oil from the garage door.
- Call a Professional
Now that you know how to oil garage door, let’s move to the next tip. Adjusting your door’s speed settings and ensuring the track system is lubricated may help to fix a slow door, but if it doesn’t, then it’s time to consult a professional, like Thompson Garage Doors & Building Supply. We can thoroughly examine and service your garage door, including checking the springs and pulleys to see if there’s another reason why your door is opening slowly. We can adjust and balance the door for the best performance. This regular maintenance and troubleshooting is an important part of keeping your door opening and closing smoothly.
It’s not advisable for homeowners to tackle complex repairs and maintenance tasks on their garage doors independently. Garage doors work under significant tension, and fixing and maintaining them properly and safely demands specific expertise and knowledge.
- Upgrade Your Garage Door
If your door is older, it might be time for a complete garage door panel replacement. With a new garage door opener and a new garage door, you’ll not only enjoy increased horsepower and a ultra-quiet motor, but you’ll also have the peace of mind, knowing that your door has modern enhancements for performance and reliability. From a battery backup to an enhanced drive system, a new door can be an excellent investment in your home.
- Check Tracks for Issues
Regularly check the tracks of your garage door for any signs of damage like dents or dings. Over time, the tracks can become loose as the door moves up and down. If you notice this, tighten the screws or bolts to ensure the tracks are secure. If you spot any flaws in the tracks, it’s best to call a professional for repairs. Damaged tracks can impede the smooth movement of the rollers, causing the door to slow down. While small dents might be fixable with a rubber mallet, in many cases, replacing the track may be necessary.
If you’re not sure where to start, let us help you. We offer a wide selection of both commercial and residential garage doors in a variety of styles, including contemporary, insulated, and custom-designed doors. They offer quiet operation, come with a variety of wall console and keypad options, and are designed to look beautiful once installed. We work with homeowners and business owners to help you find the best solution for your needs. Whether you’re looking to buy high-speed commercial garage doors, the fastest garage door opener, need a custom option to fit into a specific garage door opening, or need maintenance and repair services, come visit our showroom today or reach out to talk to one of our door specialists.
