Proper Garage Door Balance

Move the garage door up and down until you find a place where the door stays suspended when you let go.

Proper garage door balance.

Checking the garage door balance before you can adjust your garage door you have to know in which direction it s out of balance. A balanced garage door is an important part of your garage. Balance the garage door if it lowers or raises on its own. Side mounted springs are long heavy springs mounted on each side of the upper garage door track.

If that point is more than four feet or less than three feet above the ground you will need to balance the door. Some balancing may be completed by skilled diyers while other balancing may require you to hire a garage door professional. A garage door uses a spring system to counter balance the weight of the garage door. When a garage door is properly balanced the springs completely support the door and the door remains in place with minimal upward or downward movement.

Should your door be manually operated proper balance will allow you to lift and close it with minimal effort. In a sectional torsion spring system this is done using one or more torsion springs that are attached to a torsion tube at the top of the garage door opening. The springs extend along the shaft and work by twisting as the garage door closes by means of cables attached to each side of the lowest garage door panel. If the door continues to rise the spring tension is too strong.

Hopefully you will find yourself next to goldilocks with a well balanced garage door that is just right. If the door falls to the lower position quickly the spring tension is too weak. Watch how the garage door moves when you let it hang freely at the halfway open and fully open positions. This tension makes it easier to lift the garage door from its closed position.

A problem with the spring tension could cause the door to open or close unevenly improperly or at the wrong speed and adjusting the springs will likely solve the problem. A door that starts sliding down slams closed on its own or that opens further on its own needs its springs adjusted.