You can adjust garage doors by making changes to components like chains, rollers and springs. If you aren’t sure how to adjust a garage door, consider hiring a professional to avoid accidents, property damage and injury.
Although modern garage doors are better than ever before, parts and components can experience wear over time. This may require repair or replacement, but many people can experience greater efficiency and operation from their garage doors by making some simple DIY adjustments.
Steps for DIY Garage Door Adjustments
DIY garage door adjustments involve things like checking the balance of the door to ensure proper weight distribution, tightening lift cables and checking for proper alignment. These are all items you can check during routine garage door maintenance every six months.
Checking and Correcting Door Balance
You can check your garage door’s balance by lifting it halfway and releasing it. Make sure to disconnect any garage door opener before doing this. If the garage door moves instead of remaining in place, it may need balancing.
To balance a garage door, tighten or loosen the torsion spring located above the garage door. For side springs, you can move the door up or down along the holes in the side bracket.
According to Bob Villa, you should use extra caution or even consider hiring a professional for any work involving springs under extreme tension. Torsion springs are known for tension, and mistakes while adjusting these types of springs can lead to injuries.
Tightening and Adjusting Lift Cables
To adjust a lift cable, disconnect the garage door from its opener. Check the cable to ensure it’s securely on its track. Wind the cable by hand until it is tight, and then reconnect the garage door.
Aligning Door Tracks
If garage door track alignment is an issue, check to ensure that the track is secured first. Next, use a rubber mallet to gently tap the door back into place onto the track.
Fine-Tuning Garage Door Openers
You may have settings on your automatic garage door opener that control how the opener operates. Check your owner’s manual for more information.
To adjust a manual opener system, check springs for proper tension. Springs that are too tight or too loose may cause your garage door to stay open too wide or not close securely.
Adjusting Limit Switches
You may be able to adjust the height of the garage door’s operation through your opener’s limit switch. This is a switch located on your garage door opener, and you can usually adjust this using a screwdriver to change the settings.
Lubricating Moving Parts
If you’re experiencing rubbing or grinding, you may be able to alleviate the problem by lubricating moving parts. In most cases, white lithium grease is recommended as a lubricant.
Tools and Safety in Garage Door Repair
In order to safely and effectively adjust your garage door, you’ll need to have the right tools and equipment. Garage door maintenance and repair tools can be purchased from hardware stores, but you can also check online retailers for any specialty items not available in your area.
Essential Tools for Garage Door Maintenance
While every job is unique, it’s a good idea to have a series of hand tools available to adjust your garage door. Screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, hammers, mallets and sockets can all come in handy. You also want to have the right safety equipment available, including flashlights and eye protection.
Safety Precautions and Best Practices
When possible, make sure you have someone else with you while you work on your garage door, especially if you will be on a ladder or engaged in activities involving balancing your garage door. Never try to lift more weight than you’re able to comfortably able to. According to Today’s Homeowner, garage doors can weigh between 100 and 400 pounds, and you can become seriously injured by this kind of weight.
Recognizing When to Call a Professional
According to This Old House, if you’ve found that a garage door adjustment is complex or something you don’t feel comfortable tackling on your own, it’s best to call a professional. You should also call a professional if you’re concerned about your safety or the potential for property damage while attempting an adjustment.
Identifying Complex Repairs
Complex garage door repairs are typically repairs that require specialty tools, multiple people or extreme precision. If you find yourself facing a complex repair, contact a garage door professional instead of taking chances.
Weighing DIY vs. Professional Services
While DIY garage door adjustments can save some money and may provide a sense of satisfaction, hiring a professional means you can rest easy at night knowing the job was done right. If you’re unsure of how to make adjustments to a garage door, it’s often best to work with a professional to avoid the potential for damage, accidents and injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to fix a misaligned garage door?
You can realign a garage door by checking the tracks to make sure they are secured in place. Locate the area where the misalignment seems be happening, and then gently tap the garage door roller back into place.
How to adjust up and over garage door spring?
To adjust up and over garage door springs, look for the stationary cone on the side of the top of the door. You should see set screws that can be adjusted to add or remove tension.
Why does my garage door go down halfway then back up?
A garage door that only goes halfway down and then back up can indicate a problem with your garage door opener, debris along your tracks, issues with chains and pulleys or other problems. In most cases, it’s best to consult a professional if you’re experiencing this kind of problem with no obvious explanation.
How to adjust the force on a garage door opener with manual adjustment screws?
You can adjust the force of your garage door opener by turning the limit adjustment screws using a standard screwdriver. These screws are typically located on the back of a garage door opener unit.
