When you press the button for your garage door, you fully expect it to open or close in a timely fashion. After all, you have places to be! However, one day, you may press the button and your garage door doesn’t move as quickly as it once did. In fact, it moves noticeably slower, taking longer to open or close. There are many reasons why this could be happening. Some you can solve on your own, while others will necessitate a call to a garage door professional.
Check out these troubleshooting tips that will help you fix a slow-opening garage door.
Adjust the Speed Dial
If the garage door opener is brand new and it’s already opening slowly, this issue could be related to the speed dial. Today’s garage door openers include a speed dial that impacts how quickly or slowly a garage door will open. Brand new doors are frequently set to the slowest setting by default. You can find the speed dial and adjust it so your garage door will open faster. Check the owner’s manual to find out where the speed dial is on your particular opener.
Lubricate Your Garage Door System
You should lubricate the moving parts on your garage door system every few months or so. This is something most people just don’t do because they forget or are unaware that they have to do this. But without proper lubrication, the parts can get stiff, making it more difficult for them to move. This slows down opening and closing times. Be sure to lubricate the tracks, springs, rollers and hinges using a silicone spray or lubricant.
Inspect Tracks for Damage
You’ll want to regularly inspect the track system for dents, dings and other signs of damage. As your garage door starts to roll up and down the tracks, they can get loose over time. If you see they are loose, tighten the screws or bolts to make sure the tracks are firmly in place. If you see flaws in the tracks, call a professional to fix them, as the rollers won’t be able to glide over them as easily and quickly as they should. This contributes to slowdown. You may be able to get small dents out by using a rubber mallet, but in many cases, the track may need to be replaced.
As you can see, there are several reasons why your garage door may be slow upon closing or opening. Whether due to a low speed dial, lack of lubrication, issue with the tracks, age or motor issues, it’s important to schedule regular maintenance and repairs with a professional garage door technician. We can help.
Contact M&M Garage Doors
Call us if you have trouble locating the source of the problem. We can get your garage door back to proper working order at the speed you’re used to. Contact M&M Garage Doors at (586) 610-5434.
