Automatic garage doors are not noted for their speed. In fact, if it was improperly configured to open and close at an accelerated rate, the various components of the door (along with its motor) would deteriorate at a similarly accelerated rate. And yet sometimes it can seem as though your garage door is moving at a slower speed than it should be. Is this slowing a sign that it will soon stop altogether?
Ongoing Maintenance
A speed reduction in the door's opening cycle can be attributed to a number of causes—most of which are not especially significant. A lack of ongoing maintenance can be the culprit, as the accumulation of dust and other debris has started to prevent the door's rollers from smoothly rotating in their tracks.
Cleaning Tracks and Rollers
It can be advisable to disconnect your garage door motor before cleaning your tracks and rollers. You don't want the door to accidentally activate while you're in the middle of cleaning, as you could easily experience a serious injury to your fingers. You don't need specialist equipment. Running a vacuum cleaner (with a brush attachment) over the door's tracks will remove any dry surface dust. Afterward, remove ingrained dirt with a moist cloth. This dirt may be greasy, as it will contain the remnants of the tracks' penetrating oil lubricants. You may wish to wear rubber gloves for this stage, and that moist cloth should be discarded afterward.
Lubrication
Once the door's tracks and rollers have been sufficiently cleaned, it's time to lubricate them. Use a silicone-based spray with a folding straw nozzle incorporated into the aerosol can. This allows for the targeted application of the product around individual rollers, getting the lubricant precisely where it needs to go, with minimal mess. Some dripping is likely, so be sure to wipe it up afterward to prevent anyone from slipping. Specialized garage door lubricant sprays can be found at any hardware store.
Opening and Closing
After cleaning and lubrication, run your garage door through an opening and closing cycle. The motion of the door's rollers through their tracks should be smoother and display general improvement. However, with older automatic doors (and older automatic door motors) any improvements to the speed of the opening cycle may be minimal. At this stage, it's advisable to contact a local garage door repair provider.
Torsion Springs
Over the years, the door's main torsion springs may have lost their tension. They may visibly sag, but in many instances, the loss of tension is only noticeable in a speed reduction in the door's opening cycle. Replacement springs must be high-tension, and this makes their installation tricky (and potentially dangerous for an amateur). However, it's a minor task for a professional.
Have a professional replace these springs, and your door's opening cycle should be restored to its previous efficiency. Be sure to regularly clean and lubricate your door's tracks and rollers from now on.
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