By Garage door springs play a vital role in ensuring your garage door system’s smooth and safe operation by counterbalancing its weight. These springs lose tension, leading to issues such as an unbalanced door or Difficulty opening and closing. Understanding the appropriate timing and methods for adjusting garage door springs is crucial for preserving your garage door’s safety and durability.
When to adjust garage door springs?
- Unbalanced door- If your garage door appears crooked or uneven when it’s halfway open, it may indicate that the springs are incorrectly balanced. An unbalanced door strains the opener and causes premature wear and tear on other components.
- Difficulty opening or closing – If your garage door feels unusually heavy or challenging to open and close manually, it may be due to incorrect spring tension. Properly adjusted springs should allow you to lift and lower the door with minimal effort.
- Rapid closing or slamming – If your garage door closes too quickly or slams down when you try to close it, the springs may have too much tension. This causes damage to the door or nearby objects.
- Slow opening or closing – The springs may need more tension if your garage door opens or closes too slowly. This causes the opener to work harder than necessary, increasing energy consumption and potential damage.
- Unusual noises – If you hear loud, unusual noises such as squeaking, creaking, or grinding when operating your garage door, it could be a sign that the springs need adjustment or lubrication.
How do you adjust extension springs?
Extension springs parallel the horizontal tracks on either side of the garage door repair frederick. To adjust extension springs:
- Please open the door fully and prop it open with a ladder or sturdy board.
- Locate the spring hook at the rear end of each spring.
- Care unhook the spring from the track bracket using an open-end wrench.
- Move the spring hook to the next hole on the track bracket to increase or decrease tension. Moving the hook towards the door increases tension while moving it away decreases tension.
- Rehook the spring and repeat the process on the other side, ensuring equal adjustment on both springs.
- Test the door balance by manually opening and closing it. Make further adjustments if necessary.
How to adjust torsion springs?
Torsion springs are mounted on a torsion tube above the garage door opening. Adjusting torsion springs is more complex and dangerous than adjusting extension springs, and leaving this task to professionals is recommended. However, if you choose to attempt it yourself, follow these steps:
- Close the garage door and clamp the torsion tube to prevent it from turning.
- Locate the winding cone at the end of each spring.
- Insert a winding bar into one of the holes in the winding cone.
- Holding the bar securely, loosen the set screws on the winding cone.
- Tighten or loosen the spring by turning the winding cone in quarter-turn increments. Turning the cone towards the ceiling increases tension while turning it towards the floor decreases tension.
- Retighten the set screws and repeat the process on the other spring, ensuring equal adjustment on both sides.
- Test the door balance and make further adjustments if needed.
Remember to perform regular maintenance tasks to prevent the need for frequent adjustments and extend the life of your garage door.
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