Automatic garage doors need to be properly balanced to work correctly. An unbalanced door can sometimes have issues where it won’t fully close or open or moves up and down more slowly. Most experts recommend testing the balance on a garage door at least twice a year, and this article will explain how to test the balance and everything else you need to know about balancing a garage door.
Why You Should Never Try to Balance a Garage Door Yourself
The first thing to understand when it comes to balancing a garage door is that it can be extremely dangerous and is most definitely not a DIY project. If you’re not extremely cautious and don’t know exactly what you’re doing, you could seriously injure or kill yourself or anyone standing nearby. While working on your garage door yourself may not seem that difficult, the fact is that more than 20,000 Americans a year end up in the hospital as a result of injuries from a garage door. Some of these injuries are a result of a fluke accident such as a spring suddenly flying off when inside the garage, but most of them happen because the person attempted to work on their door themselves.
The reason you shouldn’t try to balance your garage door on your own is that it involves adjusting the springs. Automatic garage door systems have either extension springs or torsion springs that release the tension they’re under to help the opener easily lift the weight of the door. Either type of spring is under an extreme amount of tension when the door is closed and can potentially break or come flying off at high speed if not adjusted carefully and correctly.
Adjusting and balancing a garage door with extension springs is fairly easy, but it requires first opening the door and then detaching both the springs and safety cables. One issue with this is that the door can come slamming down when you disconnect the springs if you don’t take steps to ensure it stays in place. The bigger issue is that there is a high risk of the springs breaking if they aren’t adjusted properly and end up being under too much tension.
Adjusting torsion springs is less dangerous since they won’t come flying off if they break. However, it requires using special tools that you almost certainly don’t have. Another issue is that you can greatly shorten the life of the torsion springs if they aren’t adjusted properly.
How to Check If Your Garage Door Is Properly Balanced
An improperly balanced garage door is a major issue for several different reasons. One is again that it can result in the springs breaking. Your garage door can also potentially come crashing down when open if it’s out of balance or may not open or close fully. Another issue is that an improperly balanced door can also result in the opener having to do most of the heavy lifting, which can cause its motor to quickly burn out or shorten the opener’s lifespan. All of these issues are why it’s a good idea to occasionally check to make sure that your garage door is correctly balanced.
To check the balance of your garage door, the first thing you need to do is disconnect it from the automatic opener trolley when the door is closed by pulling down on the red emergency release cord. You should then try to lift it up by hand to see how heavy it feels and make sure it opens and closes fully and moves smoothly. The door should lift fairly easily if the springs aren’t broken and it isn’t too far out of balance. If you struggle to lift it, it usually means that one of the springs is broken.
The next step is to close the door and then open it just halfway. If the door is correctly balanced, it shouldn’t move at all when you let go of it. If the door moves down or completely closes, it indicates that the springs don’t have enough tension. If it moves upward on its own when you let go, it means the springs are under too much tension. If the door is balanced and moves smoothly, you can then reconnect it to the opener.
If it isn’t properly balanced, you’ll need to contact a garage door company to have it rebalanced. It’s fairly common for a garage door to eventually become unbalanced due to it repeatedly opening and closing. This is one of the many reasons why it’s a good idea to have a technician inspect and maintain your garage door every year so that you can avoid any potential issues or safety hazards.
With over 30 years of experience, BDK Door Company is the company to turn to for your residential and commercial garage door needs in Montgomery. Whether your door needs to be repaired or you need a new garage door installed, give our expert team a call to get the professional assistance you need.
