Your garage door doesn’t need to feel like you’re lifting weights every time you open and close it. With some simple adjustments, you can tension your garage door springs and restore smooth operation. Tugging and binding are signs that your springs need attention, so follow these steps to tension them easily at home.
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Check Your Springs
Your garage likely has either extension or torsion springs along the sides to help lift and balance the door. Extension springs run parallel to the door tracks and are on the sides. Torsion springs are located above the door near the header and consist of a bar around which coils of cable are wound. Check each spring to see if any coils are broken or disconnected, which would require professional Garage Door Spring Repair in Virginia Beach help for safety. Otherwise, you can likely tension the springs yourself.
Safety First
Tensioning door springs requires caution as the springs store a great deal of potential energy. Wear work gloves and safety glasses during the process. Use tools specifically designed for garage doors to safely adjust spring tension, including a winder bar or ratchet wrench. Never put fingers near coils or cables while tensioning. Consider having a helper on hand in case of slippage.
Adjust Extension Springs
Loosen the locknut on each extension spring’s cable so you can twist the winding cone. Twist the cone one full turn counter-clockwise to add tension. Test the door balance – it should neither hang too high nor drop when opened halfway. Add or remove half turns on each spring as needed until properly balanced. Then tighten each locknut firmly to hold the adjustment.
Adjust Torsion Springs
For torsion springs, loosen the torsion shaft locknuts so you can use a winding rod or wrench to twist the shaft itself. Add turns one at a time, rotating the shaft clockwise to increase tension. Test balance between each turn. Tighten locknuts securely once balanced. You may need a different size torsion spring if balance cannot be achieved through adjustment alone.
Recheck Your Work
Test the door operation after making adjustments to be sure everything feels smooth and balanced with the right amount of spring assistance. To operate safely, it shouldn’t require excessive strength to lift or lower. Give it a few cycles opening and closing to verify your work. Recheck spring and locknut tightness periodically as well. Proper spring tension prolongs your garage door’s functioning for many more years to come.
When in Doubt, Call a Pro
If springs were already heavily worn or damaged prior, tensioning may only provide temporary relief. Cables or springs near breakage indicate a job better left to experienced garage door technicians. Their “Garage Door Spring Repair in Virginia Beach” expertise ensures safe installation of new springs sized correctly for your door. Don’t hesitate to call a pro if you’re uncomfortable adjusting springs or can’t get the door balanced just right on your own. Your safety is most important.
Richard Wright is a blogger with a passion for technology who has been writing about the latest in the world of gadgets and gizmos. They are an avid reader of Science-Fiction novels and love to spend time with their wife and kids.
