How to Fix a Slow-Opening Garage Door

    

     Garage doors do a lot of heavy lifting on a day-to-day basis, which means that they will eventually need maintenance and repairs to stay working. How will you know when your garage door needs service? One of the telltale signs is that it takes longer to open and close. Let's have a look at some of the reasons a garage door would be slow and how to fix a slow garage door. 

    Normally, a garage door should take anywhere from 12-15 seconds to open and close. Most garage doors will be able to fully complete opening and closing cycles within that time frame. If you find that your garage door is taking closer to 20 seconds (or longer) to open or close, it may be time to get the door checked. 

    Garage doors typically slow down due to improper lubrication. Without the proper lubrication, your garage doors parts have to work overtime during the opening and closing cycles, which makes those processes take longer than usual. Another reason for the slow-down is just normal use over time. As it is used day-in and day-out, the pulleys can become worn and spring can lose tension. This slows down operating speed significantly. 

    If you're wondering how to fix a slow garage door, start by lubricating all tracks, brackets and hinges. Once you've fully lubricated those parts, test the door to see if it's moving faster. Some garage door models have speed setting controls. If you happen to have these, check to make sure the setting haven't been adjusted. If the DIY lubrication method doesn't work, it's time to call a professional. A professional garage door service provider can check your door's pulley's and springs to see if there's a more complex issue that needs repair. 

    Do not try and handle the more intensive maintenance and repair tasks yourself. Garage doors operate under a massive amount of tension, and it requires specialized knowledge and expertise to safely provide the necessary repairs. 

    At Gandert Door, we offer some of best garage door products as well as maintenance and repair services in Ohio. We know just how important your garage door and it's operation is to your day-to-day lifestyle. Our technicians are trained to work on garage doors, fire doors and opening systems. If you are ever in need of assistance to fix a slow opening garage door, just call us at (419) 529-2002.