Because garage doors are designed for safety and security, they are heavy. The motors used to lift and lower them are specifically designed for heavy lifting, and they require regular maintenance to remain fully operational. They’ll also occasionally need repairs, especially if the door is opening slowly.
There are several reasons a garage door may open slowly. Following are two of the more common reasons and some troubleshooting suggestions.
Necessary tools
Before you begin, it is a good idea to have the following items handy:
Penetrating oil
Damp cloth
Flat-head screwdriver
Stepladder
Modifying the speed of the opener
One of the most common reasons why a garage door opens slowly is that the motor is set to the lowest setting. Luckily, owners can adjust this by hand.
Find the opener’s access panel, press its tabs, and tilt it down or up to remove it. Check the opener speed setting and find the screw that controls the speed. If it’s operating at the lowest speed, use a flat-head screwdriver to turn it higher. Replace the panel.
Test the speed by opening and closing the door. If it’s running normally, you’ve found and solved the problem.
You should note that the higher the door’s speed setting, the harder the opener motor will have to push or pull to close and open the door. If the garage door is sticking or unbalanced, modifying the speed setting won’t correct this. In those cases, the door requires servicing by garage door repair specialists.
Lubricating the garage door
If the door is still moving slowly after the speed is adjusted, it may need some lubrication. Close the door to start the lubrication process. Use a damp cloth to wipe away any grime and grease on the rollers, roller pins, and hinges.
Lubricate the door at the hinges’ seams. Squeeze the penetrating oil to make it drip down into the creases. Apply oil to the roller pins and mount brackets, and lubricate the tracks by adding six drops of oil onto each one. Take care to avoid applying the oil to the plastic and nylon parts of hinges, doors, and wheels since some lubricants can break down the materials over time.
Open and close the door a few times to distribute the penetrating oil to each component.
Smooth, steady speed is the way to go
Performing these repairs is a relatively easy way of speeding up a slow-running garage door. However, if neither of these solutions solves the problem, hire a professional garage door contractor such as Arizona Garage Door and Repair to get to the bottom of the problem and fix the door appropriately.
