Garage door springs are an essential part of your garage door system. They are responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the door and providing the force needed to open and close it. Unfortunately, they are also prone to wear and tear, and they require periodic adjustments. In this blog, we will explain how to adjust garage door springs safely and easily.
What are garage door springs?
Garage door springs are what make it possible for you to open and close your garage door with ease. They are found on both manual and automatic garage doors, and they come in two basic types: torsion and side-mounted.
Torsion springs
are a single coiled piece of metal that is mounted above the garage door on a metal shaft
Side-mounted / Extension
springs are two separate pieces of metal that are mounted to the sides of the door.
Why Adjust Garage door springs?
The purpose of garage door springs is to counterbalance the weight of the door and provide the force needed to open and close it. Unfortunately, they are prone to wear and tear and can become loose over time, which can cause the door to open or close unevenly or to become difficult for the garage door opener to open your garage door. This is why it is important to periodically adjust the springs to ensure that they are working properly and not making your garage door slam on its way down.
How do I know if my garage door springs need to be adjusted?
There are several signs that may indicate that your garage door springs need to be adjusted:
Difficulty opening or closing the door: This is one of the most common signs. If you notice that your garage door is becoming harder than before to open or close, it could be a sign that the springs need adjustment. This is because the springs help to counterbalance the weight of the door, and if they are not adjusted properly, the door may become too heavy to operate easily.
Uneven movement: If your garage door is moving unevenly, such as jerking or hesitating, this could be another indication also that the springs need adjustment. When the springs are not properly balanced, one side of the door may be heavier than the other, causing the door to move unevenly.
Rumbling noises: If you hear loud creaking, popping or banging noises when you open or close your garage door, this could be a sign that the springs need tension adjustment. These noises may be caused by loosened springs or even a totally broken springs struggling to support the weight of the door.
Misaligned door: it’s rarely to happen but sometimes your door spring is too tension and unbalanced that it could push your door out of the door track which you will notice that your garage door is sagging or misaligned. Misaligned door & Adjusting your springs is a hard job to do for average homeowner experience and may vary on how to do it right. We reccomend when you find your door out of track to what ever reason, you have to call your local garage door company because it could be from a lot of other reasons combined.
Types of Garage Door Springs – Torsion and Side Mounted/extension
As we mentioned above, there are two basic types of garage door springs: torsion and side-mounted. Torsion springs are a single coiled piece of metal that is mounted above the garage door on a metal shaft, while side-mounted springs are two separate pieces of metal that are mounted to the sides of the door.
Torsion springs are more common and can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the spring. Side-mounted springs, on the other hand, require more complicated adjustments, as they must be adjusted in pairs.
Installing, replacing, and adjusting garage door springs is a dangerous task that is best left to the experts. At garage door spring adjustment service in Miami-dade & Broward Counties, our AAA Garage doors inc team of experienced and certified professionals will be able to safely and effectively install or replace your garage door springs, ensuring that your door is properly functioning and safe to use.
How to Adjust Torsion Springs
Garage door springs are the most Adjusting torsion springs is fairly straightforward.
Tools Needed
2 Vice grips
2 Winding Bars 16 – 18 Inch Long
8 Inch Wrench
Hammer
How Many Turns to Put on Your Garage Door Springs
Before you do any adjustments to your garage door spring tension it needs first to know how many turns to put on your garage door springs. start by opening the door and observing the movement. If the door moves smoothly, the springs are likely in good condition. If the door moves erratically or seems to be stuck, the springs may be too tight or too loose, But it’s all based on your garage door height and the diameter of your drums which is a standard of 4 inches if your door is a residential garage door.
basically, The 6.6-foot garage door will require 7 turns.
The 7-foot garage door will require 7.8 turns on your springs.
The 7.6-foot Garage door will require 8 Turns on your springs.
The 8-foot garage door will require 8.8 turns on your springs.
You have to know that each turn counts when your Winding bar turns to the upper direction of the other Winding bar as the following picture explains.
Safety Precautions
Before attempting to adjust your garage door springs, it is important to take the necessary safety precautions. First, make sure that the power is turned off to the garage door opener. wear safety glasses and gloves when adjusting the springs to protect your eyes and hands.
1- Open your garage door
Torsion Springs should never be adjusted with the door down. If you need to adjust your torsion springs, always do so with the door up and there is zero tension on the spring. Trying to adjust torsion springs with the door down can be extremely dangerous, and can result in serious injury or even death.
2- Use a Vice grip on the drum and the door track
Use one of the vice grip in the shaft and lean it against the wall to keep the cable from loosening while you adjust the springs. The other Vice grip on the door track under the bottom door roller locks in place and prevent your door from flying up suddenly after you adjust the springs.
Image Credit: familyhandyman
3- Use your winding bar.
to know how much tension your springs needs, try to lift off your garage door a foot and a half and let it down to see if it slams that means you need to increase its tension and if it’s not closing completely that means you need to decrease its tension. keep your body away from these bars and don’t stand in front of the winding bars.
To increase spring tension put your winding bar in the winding cone and hold.
4- back off your set screws but not completely off.
5- push up one time then put your other winding bars in the winding cone and hold.
6- Repeat one more time which means you did 3 turns.
Image Credit: homedepot
7- Tap the winding bar with the Hammer to stretch the spring out from the center about 1/4 in.
Image Credit: familyhandyman
To Decrease spring tension Reverse The process of pushing up to pushing down and keep following the rest.
8- After your finish Tighten the set screws until they touch the torsion tube, Remove the Vice grip from the drum and door track.
9- Test your door the same way we tested it earlier if it works properly replug your garage door opener and lubricate the springs. ( Best Springs Lubricate is a Silicone-based lubricant).
How to Adjust Side-Mount Springs
Tools Needed
- Sturdy ladder
- C-clamp
- Adjustable wrench
- Masking tape or marker
1- Open your garage door completely
As we mentioned before never adjust your garage door springs while your door is closed because that puts a lot of tension on your garage door spring so keep your garage door completely open.
2- Put your C-clamp
Put the C-clamp under the garage door bottom roller to ensure the garage door is in place.
3- Deattach the spring Hook
The spring hook is that it is responsible for keeping the tension in the spring. After you have taken it out, you will be able to move it to a higher or lower hole to raise or lower the tension. When attempting to take out the spring hook, you will observe that a bigger hook is securing it to the track hanger. This larger hook, in turn, is held in its spot with a nut. Use the adjustable wrench to remove the nut and the spring hook.
4- Adjust the spring tension
Adjust the tension of your springs by moving the hook to a different hole on the track hanger. If your door isn’t closing fully, is difficult to close, or opens too quickly, you can try fixing it by hooking the spring onto a lower hole on the track hanger. This will reduce the length of the spring and the tension as well.
If your door isn’t closing properly, is difficult to close, or opens too quickly, you can try adjusting the tension on the door by hooking the spring onto a lower hole on the track hanger. This will reduce the length of the spring and the tension on it, which may fix the problem.
If your door is difficult to open or closes too quickly, you can try increasing the tension by hooking the spring onto a higher hole on the track hanger. This will stretch the spring and increase the tension on it, which may fix the problem.
If your door isn’t closing evenly, you can try adjusting the spring only on the side where there is a gap. This may fix the problem.
5- After you finish Test your door if it’s balanced and springs correctly adjusted.
6- Lubricate the springs. ( Best Springs Lubricate is a Silicone-based lubricant).
Inspecting Your Garage Door Springs
Inspecting your garage door springs and garage door, in general, is an important part of ensuring that they are in good working order. Make sure to inspect & Maintenance them periodically for signs of wear and tear, such as corrosion or fraying. If you notice any signs of wear and tear, it is important to replace or repair the springs as soon as possible to avoid further damage and costly repairs. You may want to read some of our tips on how maintenance your garage door
For expertise that works for your absolute convenience, just give AAA Garage Door a call. Our team provides comprehensive garage door solutions all over Miami-Dade County, FL. From new residential garage door installations to replacements and repairs, we apply the most innovative technologies and unparalleled skill to ensure your garage doors are properly handled. When your garage door springs require replacing or you need a low-cost answer for jammed garage openers, AAA Garage Door will serve with excellence and deliver outstanding results you can certainly rely on. We carry A huge variety of approved Hurricane garage doors.
Conclusion
Adjust garage door springs are an important part of ensuring that your garage door is in good working order. Torsion springs are fairly easy to adjust, while side-mounted springs require more complicated adjustments. Before attempting to adjust your garage door springs, but most importantly, make sure to take the necessary safety precautions. Additionally, it is important to inspect the springs periodically for signs of wear and tear, and to make sure that they are properly lubricated. Finally, if you are unsure of how to adjust the springs, it is best to call a professional for assistance. You can call AAA Garage Doors professionals at any time of the day and get the high qualitative garage door spring adjustment with our garage door repair services in Miami-Dade & Broward Counties or Call Us Anytime (305) 702-0113.
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