How to Fix an Uneven Garage Door
Uneven garage doors are often the first sign of underlying problems. Most garage door models use a tension spring on each side to balance the door. If these springs are damaged, the door will close too quickly, which can become a security risk and a health hazard for family members and pets that use the area. If left unchecked, the garage door can fail entirely, and the damage done might require a complete door replacement.
To avoid costly repairs, a homeowner should rebalance the doors as soon as possible.
Tools required to fix uneven doors
If you’re willing to DIY this project, use the following tools:
Vice grips
A 7/16 socket or wrench
Winding bars
Steps to fix the doors
Fixing the uneven doors is a relatively straightforward process, but be sure to follow the instructions carefully and exercise caution while you’re working with the tension springs. A ladder is also recommended to reach the springs.
Step one: disconnect the power source from the door opener and relieve the tension
Before performing any fixes on the garage door, disconnect the opener from the power supply. After that, pull the release rope down to de-stress the springs and prevent the doors from sliding. The garage doors can rest on the ground with no issues.
Step two: loosen the springs
Use the wrench and winding bars to loosen the springs on each side of the door. The side of the door that is hiked up has more tension in it, so it will need to be loosened more than the other. Once both springs are loose, the doors should naturally close, and the center will be balanced.
Step three: loosen the drum cables
After both springs are loosened, release the drum cables on both sides.
Step four: tighten the sides
Once both sides are loosened, use the vice grips to tighten the hiked-up side first. The cable needs to be as tight as a guitar string, but no more.
Tighten the second drum cable afterward, bearing in mind to have both cables at the same tension.
Step five: tighten the springs
Once you’ve tightened the drum cables, tighten both sides of the springs. Use half-turns until both sides are evenly tight. Two rotations are usually enough to tighten the springs.
Step six: check if the door is balanced
Open and close the door to check if both sides are even. If one side is still hiked up, relieve some tension from that side and try again. Once the door lies flat, the fix is complete.
We don’t recommend performing this fix without the tools and some knowledge of the systems. You can get seriously injured when mishandling tension springs. Contact your garage door professional for a quick repair of uneven garage doors and an inspection of your garage doors to diagnose any potential problems.
Quality Overhead Door, Inc. is a full-service garage door installation and repair company for both residential and commercial customers in the GIlbert area 480-838-8850.
Our new location:
Quality Overhead Door Inc
1750 N. Rosemont., Ste 107
Mesa, AZ 85205
Office: 480.838.8850 Fax: 480.964.9942
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