Home & Garden Furniture

Adjusting Tension on Garage Doors

Why should you go about adjusting tension on garage doors? Well, you have to realize that this factor has a lot to do with your overall satisfaction in using the product.
Did you know that the garage door tension affects how easily the door opens and how safely it closes? Adjusting the tension could do a lot more than assure your safety.
Undue tension can actually make the motor of a door opener work harder.
This means it consumes more power.
As a result, you might end up paying an unnecessary huge electricity bill.
The first step would be to test the tension on the door if it really does need adjusting.
What you should do first is to disconnect your door opener.
This should be a pretty easy task, considering how a lot of garage door openers have quick disconnect features.
You should then position the door so that it is half open.
For this task, you might need a platform to support the weight of the door.
When it is halfway open, try to see if the door is leveled.
If the tension is balanced, it should be.
You should then try to lower or raise it.
If it does so quite easily, then you have just the right amount of tension.
If not, then it's time for the actual adjustment.
First, up, open your door fully.
This is so that the springs are relieved from all tension.
This makes the task a lot easier for you.
After this, you need to use a pair of pliers or a block just bellow the rollers on the side track to lock the door into place.
Make sure that the door is fully locked.
A slip may cause it to come crashing down and could lead to an accident.
The lifting cable should then be disconnected.
This is disconnected from the bend of the track, at the brace.
You will see a lot of similar holes.
In order to go about adjusting tension on the garage door, you can move the cable to a hole that is farther from or closer to the door.
Moving it closer will increase the tension while moving it farther will decrease the tension.
Remove the stops.
Try to raise or lower the door.
If it still is not level, then you should adjust one side.
When it is level, then you should make sure that you adjust both sides equally.
Try it and readjust it until the door operates the way you want it to.
Here are a few tips to help you make sure that the process goes smoothly: 1) Have someone help you when you adjust the spring.
Have him or her support the spring while you are disconnecting or connecting it.
This makes sure that an accidental slip on your part will not cause an accident.
2) Get a professional to help you if you want the torsion springs replaced or adjusted.
Replacing and adjusting these parts have been known to cause accidents.
Cases often involve maiming and even death.
DIY of this part of the door is taboo.
3) Wear safety equipment - it is always important to make sure that you wear the proper safety equipment, even in performing such seemingly simple tasks as adjusting tension on garage doors.
Gloves and goggles are essential, as the spring can pinch your hand and could strike your eye.


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