How to Tell If a Garage Door Is Balanced
Whether or not your garage door is balanced can make a big difference to its performance and lifespan.
Whether or not your garage door is balanced can make a big difference to its performance and lifespan. It's pretty easy to check, but not everyone knows how. We'll explain how to check and what to do if your door is out of balance. Have fun!
First, Clear The Area
Safety first! For the tests you'll be doing today, you want to make sure nothing will be coming or going underneath your door. That means no equipment or people should be under or passing under the door while you are running this test. It's pretty basic, but needed to be said for safety purposes.
Disconnect Your Opener
The first step is disconnecting the door from the opener by pulling on the release cord (usually red and hanging down from the top in front of the opener).
The Door Should Be Easy To Lift
Next, check to see if you can lift your garage door easily with one hand. If you can't, then something is probably off. Sometimes, applying some White Lithium Grease can be helpful if it's just a little harder than it should be. Spray the springs, tracks, and rollers. If that doesn't fix the problem, it is highly recommended to call a professional. Your garage is a big piece of machinery and can be very dangerous.
Lift Your Door About 2 Feet Off The Ground
Your door should still be disconnected from your opener. After you lift your door a couple of feet off the ground, let it go. If your door is balanced, it should just stay there. If the springs have too much tension, they will pull your door up. Your door will fall to the ground if they don't have enough tension. See why we wanted you to clear the area?
If your door goes up or falls down, it is highly recommended that you call a professional. Too much tension in your springs makes them more prone to break, and you don't want anything important underneath it when that happens. If the spring is too loose, it might not be able to lift the door at some point.
Don't Stress!
A professional with garage door maintenance can ensure your garage door opener is in safe working order.
Don't Forget To Reconnect Your Opener!
If you ran all these tests and passed, congratulations! But don't forget to reconnect your opener. Otherwise, your garage door won't open and it won't even be broken!
Need reliable garage door repair or installation services in Phoenix? Contact Lucky Boy Garage Door, your trusted experts. Let us keep your home secure and functional!
