Does it feel like your garage door is taking forever to open? You aren’t imagining it. Most garage doors are designed to take 10 to 15 seconds to fully open or close. If your garage door takes longer than this to close, it is officially running slow. While this can be a sign of a serious mechanical issue, there are a few DIY checks you can perform before calling a professional.
Common Cause #1: Friction & Lack of Lubrication
Garage door systems have a number of moving parts. Over time, the factory lubrication wears away, increasing the friction between these parts. If your garage door recently started losing speed, a lack of lubrication is the most likely cause.
How to Fix It: You can often speed up a slow garage door on your own by lubricating the three key components:
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The Hinges:
Located on the inside of the door, hinges hold the panels together and allow the door to fold as it’s raised. Lift your door manually and spray each hinge once or twice as they reach the pivot point.
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The Rollers:
These slide along the track at the edges of your door. Check if the metal rollers are dry. A quick spray can make an immediate difference.
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The Springs:
Located at the top of the door, these are responsible for lifting the heavy weight. Because they play such a pivotal role, it’s essential to keep them lubricated to extend the life of the machine. They only need a tiny bit of lube, so don’t overdo it.
Do NOT use WD-40 to complete this task. WD-40 is a solvent that removes rust and grease. It will strip away existing lubricant and actually make your garage door slower. It’s best to use a dedicated non-silicone garage door lubricant. Apply only to metal components.
Common Cause #2: Incorrect Speed Settings
If you have a new garage door that feels too slow, it might simply be programmed to a slower setting. In general, manufacturers set these dials to the lowest speed by default for safety reasons.
How to Fix It:
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Locate the Dial:
Units with adjustable speeds usually hide the dial beneath the motor housing that sits above your parking area.
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Check Your Manual:
Every model is different. Consult your owner’s manual to learn how to safely adjust the speed for your specific unit.
Common Cause #3: Worn Springs or Aging Motor
If you’ve applied lubrication and adjusted the settings without results, the issue is likely mechanical. Over time, springs lose their tension and motors lose their horsepower, making it difficult to lift the door’s weight at standard speeds.
How to Fix It: Unlike the first two causes, mechanical wear requires professional repair. However, you can identify exactly which part needs to be fixed just by looking and listening:
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Check the Springs:
Look at the torsion springs located above the door. If you see a visible gap in the coils, you have a broken spring. Do not attempt to fix this yourself. Springs are under extreme tension and are dangerous to handle without proper tools.
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Check the Motor:
Listen to the opener as it runs. A healthy motor hums; a dying motor sounds like it is straining, grinding, or buzzing loudly. If the motor sounds like it is struggling, it likely needs to be replaced.
If you spot a gap in the spring or hear your motor straining, contact Robert’s Garage Door Professionals. We can safely replace the broken components and get your door opening smoothly again.
When to Call a Professional
If simple maintenance doesn’t speed up your door, it is time to have your garage door serviced. Issues with springs or motors can be dangerous to repair without the proper tools and training.
Robert’s Garage Door Professionals specializes in both commercial and residential garage door repair. If the system is beyond repair, we also offer high-speed garage door installation in Evanston, Chicago, and the surrounding areas.
As the premier garage door company in the Chicagoland area, we’re sure you’ll be satisfied with our service. Plus, we’ll beat the price of any of our competitors and even honor their coupons.
