How to Adjust Garage Door Springs
Adjusting your garage door springs is one of those tasks that sounds easy, but is surprisingly difficult--not to mention dangerous! The experts at United Garage Doors are here to take the guess-work out of overhead garage door repair.
Your garage door springs offset the garage door's entire weight, which is very heavy. They need to be adjusted properly for the door to open and shut easily.
>>Related Content: Garage Door Spring Replacement Orlando
The residential and commerical garage door experts at United Garage Doors are trained in dealing with every variety of spring issue--believe us: we've seen it all.
Spring tension is the key to a smoothly-operating garage door. Here are a few signs that you might need a spring adjustment:
A garage door might seem like a pretty simple apparatus, but a lot goes into it. If you have problems, United's friendly, cost-effective experts will determine the right solution, including:
Here's how the United team actually adjust the springs, whether they are the LiftMaster brand we pride ourselves in carrying, or another brand:
First, we'll open the door completely to release all of the tension on the springs.
Next, the door must be firmly secured. This is of crucial importance, otherwise the door may slam shut on an unsuspecting victim!
The spring hook is then removed from the track hanger. If the tension needs to be decreased, we move the spring down a hole; up a hole if it's too loose. The tension must be adjusted evenly between springs, alternating one-at-a-time between them until the proper balance has been reached.
Lastly, we'll test the door several times and assess whether any final adjustments must be made. For example, there are some fine-tuning adjustments that can be accomplished by adjusting the garage door cable.
>>Related Content: Garage Door Spring Types
Many of the garage doors United offers utilize torsion springs, which are changed in a slightly different way:
First we close the door and securing it with clamps. Next we locate the opener's winding cone.
The winding cones (and consequently, the springs) are adjusted with a winding bar, rotating them to create the proper tension.
One of the toughest elements of spring adjustment is stretching the spring to its ideal tension, then tightening the set screws. We finish by lubricating the springs with an industrial-grade spray--trust us: WD-40 isn't going to do the job here.
If your garage door has any of the problems we mentioned, don't let the problem lock you in. Contact family-owned-and-operated United Garage Doors for the best service your garage door can get. We'd also love to have you visit the United Garage Doors showroom to check out new options for any and all of your residential/commercial garage door needs.
>>Related Content: Garage Door Spring Replacement Orlando
Understanding Your Garage Door's Problem: Do You Need a Spring Adjustment?
The residential and commerical garage door experts at United Garage Doors are trained in dealing with every variety of spring issue--believe us: we've seen it all.
Spring tension is the key to a smoothly-operating garage door. Here are a few signs that you might need a spring adjustment:
- Your door is more difficult to operate than usual--it takes longer to open or close too
- Your door opens too quickly, or it slams shut (or both)
- The garage door doesn't close fully, or closes unevenly, leaving one side open
How United Garage Doors Diagnoses Your Problem
A garage door might seem like a pretty simple apparatus, but a lot goes into it. If you have problems, United's friendly, cost-effective experts will determine the right solution, including:
- Decrease the spring tension:
Decrease the spring tension: springs that are too tight cause your door to close only partially, or spring open wildly, potentially causing damage to your door. - Increase the spring tension:
Increase the spring tension: If your door struggles to open, but closes too quickly, your springs are probably too loose. - Adjust the tension on one side only:
Adjust the tension on one side only: Sometimes only one spring will need adjustment--this is the cause of the gap or uneven closure.
Here's how the United team actually adjust the springs, whether they are the LiftMaster brand we pride ourselves in carrying, or another brand:
First, we'll open the door completely to release all of the tension on the springs.
Next, the door must be firmly secured. This is of crucial importance, otherwise the door may slam shut on an unsuspecting victim!
The spring hook is then removed from the track hanger. If the tension needs to be decreased, we move the spring down a hole; up a hole if it's too loose. The tension must be adjusted evenly between springs, alternating one-at-a-time between them until the proper balance has been reached.
Lastly, we'll test the door several times and assess whether any final adjustments must be made. For example, there are some fine-tuning adjustments that can be accomplished by adjusting the garage door cable.
>>Related Content: Garage Door Spring Types
Adjusting Torsion Springs
Many of the garage doors United offers utilize torsion springs, which are changed in a slightly different way:
First we close the door and securing it with clamps. Next we locate the opener's winding cone.
The winding cones (and consequently, the springs) are adjusted with a winding bar, rotating them to create the proper tension.
One of the toughest elements of spring adjustment is stretching the spring to its ideal tension, then tightening the set screws. We finish by lubricating the springs with an industrial-grade spray--trust us: WD-40 isn't going to do the job here.
Why Professional Spring Adjustment Is Important (And Much Safer)!
If your garage door has any of the problems we mentioned, don't let the problem lock you in. Contact family-owned-and-operated United Garage Doors for the best service your garage door can get. We'd also love to have you visit the United Garage Doors showroom to check out new options for any and all of your residential/commercial garage door needs.