A properly balanced garage door operates smoothly and quietly. It allows you to lift and lower your door by hand with minimal effort. If you have an automatic garage door opener, a balanced garage door reduces the strain on your opener, allowing the opener to lift the weight limits it was designed for. Conduct the test we’ve outlined here to determine if your garage door is properly balanced.
Torsion springs are calculated to counterbalance the weight of your garage door. Springs control the majority of the lifting and lowering of a garage door. This is the case whether a garage door is opened manually or with an automatic garage door opener. The balance of your garage door is based on the relationship between the garage door’s weight and the springs that are countering the weight.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY GARAGE DOOR IS PROPERLY BALANCED?
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. If the door falls to the lower position quickly, the spring tension is too weak. If the door continues to rise, the spring tension is too strong.
UNBALANCED GARAGE DOORS
If a garage door is improperly balanced it may:
• Feel unusually heavy during manual opening and closing,
• Cause wear and tear on other important garage door components,
• Affect the efficiency, longevity and safe operation of your garage door opener. Openers are built to work in conjunction with a properly balanced garage door. An unbalanced door will cause the opener to work harder as it strains to lift extra loads it wasn’t built to bear.
WARNING
To prevent possible SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH:
• ALWAYS call a trained door system technician if your garage door sticks, binds or is out of balance. Safety reversing features may be compromised, and a garage door may not reverse when necessary if it is unbalanced.
• NEVER attempt to move, adjust, or loosen a garage door as garage door components such as cables, pulleys, brackets or their hardware, and door springs are all under EXTREME tension.
• NEVER release (disengage garage door opener) when it is in the open position. If the spring is out of balance or broken, the door could come crashing down, causing damage to door and anything in its path, as well as cause SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH.
• BEFORE installing and operating a garage door opener, disable ALL locks and remove ALL ropes connected to the garage door to avoid entanglement.
Perform these steps to test the proper balance of your sectional garage door:
1. Close the garage door.
2. If you have an automatic garage door opener, disconnect it from the garage door. Consult your garage door opener manual for instructions. NEVER release (disengage garage door opener) when it is in the open position. If the spring is out of balance or broken, the door could crash down, causing damage to door and anything in its path, as well as cause SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH.
3. While the door is disconnected from the opener, lift the door by hand 3-4 feet off the ground. The door should move easily with one hand. If the door sticks, remove any obstructions and then lubricate the door rack, rollers, and hinges. Contact a professional door technician if lubricating the door does not resolve the issue.
4. While the door is still disconnected from the opener and positioned 3-4 feet off the ground, slowly lessen your grip on the door. If the garage door is properly balanced, the springs will completely support the door, and the door will remain in place.
• It is considered acceptable if the door slowly drifts minimally upwards or downwards.
• If the door slams shut or shoots upward with force, the door is out of balance.
5. Reattach the garage door opener if the door passes the balance test, has no obstructions, and does not stick.
Did your garage door fail the balance test? Contact a professional door technician to adjust the torsion springs.
[custom_blockquote style=”red”]Serious injuries result every year from attempting repairs to torsion springs without proper training and equipment. At Upright Door Service Inc., our technicians are highly qualified, and have the expertise to spot and correct potentially dangerous situations. [/custom_blockquote]
FURTHER SAFETY TESTS
Does your garage door reverse on contact? Watch How To Perform A Garage Door Safety Test to make sure your garage door system is operating safely.
HIRE AN ACCREDITED GARAGE DOOR DEALER
Contact us today if your garage door is unbalanced. We are an accredited garage door dealer and a member of the International Door Association. We’ll ensure your garage door is properly balanced so you and your family can enjoy years of reliable convenience, and safe operation.