What to Do if Your Garage Door Is Off-Balance

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Garage doors were created to have even and smooth operations when opening and closing, but too often, due to lack of proper maintenance and spring wear, garage doors can become off-balance. The balance of your garage door is managed by the tension of torsion or extension springs. These springs make raising and lowering garage doors easy. When a garage door is off-balance, it means the springs either don’t have enough tension to counterbalance the door’s weight or they are exerting too much pressure.

The garage door opener strains when it is off-balance, which will drastically shorten its life. Operating the door when it fails or the power goes out can also be hazardous. This can cause serious injury or death. Signs your garage door is off-balance include:

• Door closes hard
• Odd sounds may happen during the operation
• The garage door takes a long time to open or close
• The garage door won’t open at all
• There is visual sagging on one side of the door

Performing a Balance Test

If you’re unsure if your garage door is balanced, there is a simple test you can perform to evaluate the quality of your door:

• Close the door from the inside.
• Detach the garage door from the opener using the red manual release rope.
• Move the door open and closed manually.
• Then lift the door halfway and release. If it stays in one place, it is properly balanced. If it closes or snaps open, the door is off-balance.

What Can Cause Your Garage Door to Be Off-Balanced?

Over time, general wear and tear have an effect on your garage door’s springs. Factors that might damage your springs are weather, lack of lubrication and dust or dirt. Your garage door could also be off the tracks, or there may be an issue with the springs. When the garage door moves, the springs must adjust to balance the weight. If they don’t, this will cause your garage door to be off-balance.

If one spring is damaged or becomes loose, that side of the door will not be in-balance, causing the two sides to move at different speeds. You will hear a noise when this starts to happen. The more they are out of sync, the more noise it often makes. 

If you start seeing the signs of wear and tear on the springs, it is a good idea to replace them as soon as possible, before the springs break. The best method to realign garage doors is by calling in a professional. These springs are under a lot of tension, so they require expert skill to replace or adjust.

What Are the Types of Garage Door Springs?

There are different types of springs, depending on what kind of door you have. But we can break them down into three main types:

• Torsion springs: This type of spring is generally best suited where torque is applied from two directions. A clothespin also has a torsion spring. Although these are a lot smaller, the principle is the same. A garage door torsion spring is usually located at the top of the door.
• Extension springs: The extension springs are located on both sides of the door and are responsible for the balance. They stretch and shrink depending on the weight of the door. Not all garage doors have them, but most residential ones do. The springs are coiled up, and they have a hook or loop on both ends. Variations of them are also commonly used on trampolines.
• Torque Master springs: The Wayne Dalton garage door has a spring inside a tube above the door when it is closed. These springs are made exclusively by Wayne Dalton for their garage door range. The spring is used for safety purposes to prevent the door from dropping uncontrollably. 

Performing a Balance Test

If you’re unsure if your garage door is balanced, there is a simple test you can perform to evaluate the quality of your door:

• Close the door from the inside.
• Detach the garage door from the opener using the red manual release rope.
• Move the door open and close it manually.
• Raise the door halfway and release it. If it stays in one place, it is properly balanced. If it closes or snaps open, the door is off-balance.

When the Garage Door Is Off-Balance

After performing a balance test at home and finding the door is unbalanced, you should call a professional garage door repair company immediately. Do not attempt to try using the garage door until the balance is fixed to avoid unnecessary opener or part breakages. Also, it is not recommended for homeowners to attempt repairing the garage door springs.

As you learned, different types of springs are responsible for raising and lowering your garage door — extension and torsion springs are the most common. Extension springs are considered the more dangerous of the two because they can snap and become dangerous projectiles. You’ll find these springs on the side of the door running along the tracks. Torsion springs will be running horizontally above the door.

Regardless if the issue is caused by your torsion springs or your extension springs, a professional is the best option when a garage door needs fixing. They have the tools, equipment, and knowledge to safely remove and replace your garage door springs. With an off-balance garage door, other components might also be damaged, and a technician will be able to quickly identify and repair those parts.

Risks of Not Fixing an Off-Balanced Garage Door

Once the springs start to deteriorate or one component has an issue, a chain reaction occurs. To compensate for the worn part, the rest of the mechanical components in your overhead door opener take the strain. Eventually, whole sections will need to be replaced instead of just one item. 

The strain can also cause the door to act erratically and even drop when you least expect it. This can be dangerous if there is anything or anyone under the door when this happens. The best advice is to call in a professional as soon as you notice any signs of damage or strain on the door.

Call the Experts at Best Overhead Door, LLC

If you’re ever unsure about your garage door repairs, rely on the proven experience at Best Overhead Door. For nearly 30 years, we have safely, affordably and reliably fixed and installed garage doors throughout Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. For all of our customers, we even offer emergency after-hour services in the following areas:

• Beaverton, Oregon
• Lake Oswego, Oregon
• Portland, Oregon
• Sherwood, Oregon
• Tigard, Oregon
• Tualatin, Oregon
• Wilsonville, Oregon
• Vancouver, Washington

We can visit your home, chat on the phone or have a video conference if you prefer. To streamline the process for you, we even bring our showroom to you with samples and brochures and can offer a free estimate. 

In addition to our repair expertise, we also offer a wide selection of high-quality Clopay® garage doors designed with the best materials available and tested to withstand variable climates and conditions. To learn more about our maintenance plans or schedule services, complete our online contact form or call us at (503) 620-1205 to speak to a specialist.

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