Your garage door is likely the heaviest piece of moving equipment in your home, and it’s important that it opens smoothly and safely. Behind the scenes, your garage door opener uses an intricate series of pulleys, springs, sensors and tracks to effectively lift the door several times a day, and sometimes, a small issue can cause it to move more slowly (or faster) than normal. In this guide, we’ll discuss things you can do to adjust the speed of your garage door opener, and when it may be time to call a professional.
How Quickly Should Your Garage Door Open and Close?
At the press of a button, your garage door should open steadily, and when the button is pressed again, it should descend at a speed that allows it to gently rest on the ground when it’s fully closed. On average, a garage door should open at a speed of seven inches per second. That means that it should take your garage door about one second to move seven inches upward or downward. In other words, your door should completely open or close in about 12 to 15 seconds.
If your garage door is moving at the wrong speed, it can damage your home or injure the people who live inside. A slow-moving door, for example, can be an annoying problem to have, and it may get stuck in a position that’s only half-open or closed. A fast-moving door, on the other hand, can slam when closing, damaging the door, or worse, hurting someone in the process.
If you think your garage door isn’t moving at the right speed, it’s time to do a little troubleshooting to find the root of the problem.
If Your Garage Door is Moving Too Slowly
A slow-moving door usually indicates that some of the parts are in need of lubrication. You can find this product at most hardware stores, and it’s pretty easy to apply. Check your garage door’s tracks, rollers and hinges for build-up and remove any debris with a damp cloth. If the parts are not well-lubricated, add a few drops of lubricating oil to the seams of the hinges, roller mount brackets and roller mount pins. It’s also a good idea to add about six drops of lubricating oil to each of the tracks, starting at the top near where they curve. Once you’re finished, open and close the door several times to distribute the oil evenly. This should help your garage door to move more smoothly and efficiently, and in many cases, it will fix your sluggish speed issues as well.
How to Adjust the Speed of Your Garage Door Opener
Oftentimes, garage door openers are set at the lowest factory speed setting, but you can manually adjust the speed with a few items. Grab a flat head screwdriver and a ladder and remove the access panel on the garage door opener. There should be a small screw inside that controls the speed. Use your screwdriver to turn the screw, easily adjusting the speed of your garage door opener until it’s just right. Once you’re finished, replace the access panel so the speed setting is concealed and protected from being accidentally bumped.
If you have tried both of these tips and your garage door is still not moving at the correct speed, it may be time to call a professional. Sometimes a garage door may be moving too slowly or too quickly because some of the mechanisms inside are faulty and need to be replaced. Because of the tension required to successfully lift a garage door, it’s important to hire a professional for these kinds of dangerous repairs. Here at Gold Label Door, we’re happy to help you get your garage door back up to speed. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
