Due to regular use, your garage door springs may lose some of its tension. In other cases, you may need to adjust the tension after upgrades or changes to your door. Whatever the reason, knowing how to adjust a double spring garage door safely will be the difference between a seamless repair and a trip to the ER.
So, for this post, we’ll discuss how we perform garage torsion spring adjustment and why it’s best to call a pro to handle the job for you. Make sure you read this before you even start turning those winding cones!
Signs you need to adjust your garage door spring tension
Your garage door is composed of many moving parts, so it can be tricky to know whether your torsion springs need some tuning. But in general, here are the signs we often see that calls for a garage door spring repair:
- Your door is hard to lift. If your door feels cumbersome or doesn’t close all the way, you may have to get the springs checked. It’s possible that it has a lower tension than it needs to lift your entire door.
- Your door is traveling too fast. Is your door slamming shut? Or is it opening too fast? These are tell-tale signs that you need a double torsion spring repair.
- Your door opens unevenly. If your door looks lopsided when open, you have to perform a garage door balance adjustment. This means that the two springs have different levels of tension, causing one to pull stronger than the other.
- Your door produces unusual noises. Misaligned springs cause creaking or straining sounds, which are not supposed to happen. It’s important to fix this before it causes more garage door problems.
- Your springs have visible gaps. The coils of your garage door springs should be tightly wound. If you notice any gaps, it could mean that the springs have become loose or damaged.
Steps for double spring garage door adjustment
Knowing how to adjust garage door tension requires proper training, tools, and experience. And if you’re wondering how we do it at California Garage Door Repair, here’s a quick preview of what goes in a service call:
Step 1. Inspecting the garage door
The first thing we do after arriving at a property is inspect the garage door springs. We assess the spring condition and your door weight to decide how much garage door spring winding we need to do.
In addition, our technician will have to assess what kind of adjustment they need to make. If your door isn’t closing fully, we may have to decrease the tension. However, if your door is hard to open, increasing the tension would be the solution.
In some cases, we may only need to adjust one spring if you’re dealing with garage door balance problems.
Step 2. Preparing the right tools
Once we’ve figured out the problem, we will prepare all the necessary garage door adjustment tools. Our team arrives in a fully equipped truck, so they no longer have to go back and forth to our headquarters to start adjusting or fixing your broken garage door spring.
Here are some of the staples we use when adjusting double spring doors:
- Matching spring winding bars
- Vice grips
- Wrench
- Hammer
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
In some cases, we may need specialized tools, depending on the condition of your door springs. Also, we want to highlight that you should never improvise with rebar or other rods as winding cones. It’s important to use one that is the correct size and matches your winding cone sizes. Otherwise, the winding bar may slip during the process, causing your spring to snap and unwind – possibly hurting you.
Step 3. Securing the garage door
After that, we get to work by securing the garage door. First, we will unplug the opener and disengage the door by pulling the emergency release cord.
Next, we will fully open your door to release as much tension as possible from the springs. We will then secure the door in place using durable vice grips or C-clamps to prevent it from slamming shut while we make the necessary adjustments.
Step 4. Adjusting the springs
The rule of thumb is to make one revolution (full turn) on each spring at a time, equivalent to four quarter turns, using winding bars. If your door doesn’t have balance issues, we will proceed to make another full turn on the second spring before testing the results.
Take note that we also have to assess the direction in which your spring is winding. Some homes have right-hand springs (clockwise), while others have left-hand springs (counterclockwise). This will dictate which direction you’ll adjust the springs, either when increasing or decreasing the tension.
Step 5. Testing the door
After making all the necessary adjustments, we will conduct a final test on your door to ensure that it is well-balanced and has the right tension. We’ll also check how fast it travels.
Aside from that, we can also conduct a full inspection on your garage door by request. This way, we can determine whether you’re also due for a garage door opener repair or some other tune-ups to keep your door in tip-top shape.
Spring adjustment safety tips to keep in mind
1. Understand how your door springs work
Having a basic understanding of how your garage door springs work can save you a lot of trouble. This way, you’ll know how much tension it holds, how critical adjustments are, and how well you can handle the task.
This way, you can decide between professional vs. DIY spring adjustment based on your handyman skills and the size of your door.
2. Always wear protective gear
3. Make incremental adjustments
‘Go big or go home’ isn’t a good mindset when adjusting your garage door springs. We always recommend referring to your door’s spring tension guide or calling a professional for the correct process.
In general, we suggest making a quarter turn at a time instead of winding your springs like you’re tightening a loose bolt. After minor adjustments, test your door and repeat the process until you get the right configuration.
4. Keep the work area clear
Before you start working on your door, make sure your garage is free of three things: kids, pets, and blocking objects.
As we’ve mentioned time and again, DIY garage spring adjustments can be dangerous. You wouldn’t want a clueless child standing near when the springs fly apart due to a mistake.
5. Know when replacements are needed
If your garage door springs are no longer holding its tension, it might be time to get a full replacement. Knowing when to adjust garage springs or replace them can save you from the hassle of tweaking them all the time.
However, if you’re unsure which one is the right solution, you can always call California Garage Door Repair. We can send a technician 24/7 to examine your door and provide recommendations about the best solution.
Why a DIY spring adjustment is not always a good idea
Many homeowners tend to do DIY repairs to save on the cost of replacing their garage door springs. The same goes for minor adjustments – after all, what harm can a few little tweaks do, right?
However, you should also remember that torsion springs are loaded with a lot of tension. And for a standard double spring setup, do-it-yourself adjustments can be dangerous. Here’s why DIY work isn’t the best way to go in terms of garage door spring safety:
- There’s a potential for injury. Without proper handling, the components of your garage door springs may turn projectile. You can sustain serious injuries, such as lacerations and bruising, from these flying parts.
- You might damage it further. If you make the wrong adjustments, you may end up needing a garage door spring replacement. This will cost you more than calling a professional for your garage door problem.
- You might void your warranty. If you have a new door, DIY garage door maintenance can instantly void your warranty coverage. That means you won’t be entitled to any assistance if your door experiences any problems within the supposed coverage period.
- There might be other problems present. Aside from spring adjustments, you may also need further garage door repair for other parts of your door. This is best assessed with the help of a professional technician.
Call a professional to adjust garage door springs!
Instead of spending your precious time on DIY work, call California Garage Door Repair for quick spring adjustments. We are on call 24/7, whether you are in Los Angeles or the surrounding areas.
We are a licensed and insured garage door company with 18+ years of expertise. Our technicians can also repair any garage door brand, make, and model – all you have to do is call.
As a family-owned business, we want nothing but the best service for your home. Over the years, we’ve helped thousands of residents with their garage door problems, be it in their springs or other parts of their door.
So, if you want professional and long-lasting garage door spring solutions, contact us at California Garage Door Repair today! Our technicians can reach you in as little as 1 hour*!
