It never fails. That day when you are already running late, your slow garage door is taking its sweet time to open. Your garage door is heavy and it gets used a lot, likely several times a day.
If your door is taking longer than usual, say, 15-20 seconds to open, then you may have a problem. There are a few things you can do yourself, but you should consider calling a technician.
Why is My Garage Door So Slow?
Garage doors work on a system of springs, sensors, pulleys, and tracks to open and close when you push the button. It seems easy until it’s not working properly.
There are several easy reasons your door is slowing down.
Age
Perhaps your garage door is getting older. Doors don’t last forever and if yours is having problems, making noises, or having difficulty opening and closing, it may be time for a new one.
Speed Control
If you have a garage door that has speed settings, maybe yours is set to move slower. This could be a safety feature, or it could have gotten changed by accident.
Lubricant
All those moving parts on your door need proper maintenance and one of the most important is lubrication. All the parts need grease to function properly and they need the right type of lubricant.
Dirt
There is a possibility that you have some type of dirt, gravel, sand, slat, or other types of debris in the tracks. If this is the case, you may hear some noises, as well, as the door tries to open or close.
How to Fix a Slow-Moving Garage Door
If your door is taking a longer time to open, and it happens now every day, there are a few ways you can troubleshoot this. Most of the time, it is the everyday wear and tear.
Hopefully, the situation is not going to be a major problem. You should check the garage door over and see if you can see any problems. There may be dents, something in the tracks, or something caught in the pulley or springs.
One of the easiest things you can do by yourself is to lubricate all the hinges, brackets, and tracks.
Do not use WD-40, as this can mix with the grease your garage door needs to work and ruin it. Using the right lubricant is important, so make sure you use a silicone or lithium grease spray.
Once you do that, try the door again to see if that has fixed the problem. If not, it may be something more serious. If your garage door opener has speed setting control, check these to make sure they are in their proper place.
Anything beyond that, you should call us. Don’t attempt to fix or repair anything on your garage door system.
Call Us
If you can’t solve the problem yourself, then don’t try anything else. Call us to come to check your door for you. Just in case there is something wrong, you want it looked at by someone who knows what to look for and how to fix it.
If there are parts that need repair or replacement, you shouldn’t touch them. If you tried using the remote and the wall switch, then there may be a bigger problem.
You can trust Team Taylor to help you find the problem fast. Garage door problems can happen unexpectedly, putting a stop to your normal routine. As soon as you notice anything out of the ordinary, do not delay in calling for professional garage door repair.
