Why Is Your Garage Door Not Opening Very Fast?
Posted on: 12 June 2020
Your garage door is the quintessential "set it and forget it" type of machinery. It's installed before you move in and hardly ever think about while you live there.
Until it stops working. Or, perhaps even more frustratingly, it takes forever to open and close.
If that's the case, you might need to have your garage door repaired, but it's worth investigating these common reasons first.
Reason One: The Setting Is Switched to Slow
You won't find a switch on your garage door panel that will automatically make it go faster, but there could be a programming option (primarily for safety reasons) that makes your garage door go up and down slower than normal. If this were the case, you would've most likely noticed it when you moved in instead of years down the road, but regardless, if you're just now seeing it, consult your owner's manual to see if there's a setting you can change.
Reason Two: Your Motor Is Going Out
If your garage door opener is old, a slow garage door may just be a sign that the motor is starting to give out. This is usually a pretty simple fix. A new motor will only run a few hundred dollars and can even be installed by the homeowner, but if you're not sure you want to tackle it yourself, call your local repair company to see if they offer this as some of their garage door services. Alternatively, the springs on your garage door may be going out. If so, this is definitely something you want to hire out. Not only is this a very technical fix, but also a potentially dangerous one as well.
Reason Three: The Tracks Need Lubrication
Of the three reasons above, this is usually the most common. Garage doors undergo a significant amount of wear and tear, and keeping your rollers and hinges properly lubricated is the best way to ensure your garage door stays around for a while. Poorly greased tracks can slow down the path of the door significantly; over time, it may cause it to stop rolling completely. You'll want to make sure you use the right type of lubricant for this, however. WD-40 may be great for most projects, but you'll need a silicone or lithium grease spray instead, and be sure to completely coat the metal hinges, springs, locks, and rollers to get your door rolling freely again.
For more information, contact a garage door service in your area.
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