How To Adjust Side Mounted Garage Door Springs

Is your garage door slamming shut at the wrong pace, opening or closing too quickly, or closing unevenly, creating a gap between the door and the opening?

All of these signs point to a problem with the springs.

When this happens, try checking and adjusting your garage door springs.

Garage door springs help to balance the weight of the door and make it easier to open and close.

If a spring is misplaced, the garage door may not open or close properly.

Though you do not need to worry, you can adjust the side mounted door springs by yourself if you have a normal garage door.

But if you do not have necessary tools, do not have experience, or do not have a mechanical background, you can always ask a professional to do the daunting work for you.

At Beaver Garage Doors Portland, we provide high-quality and safe garage door services to meet your garage door needs.

Contact us to learn more about our garage door repair in Portland.

We can help fix your damaged garage door, right away.

How to recognize side mounted springs?

Known as extension springs, side mounted springs are positioned on both sides of your garage door.

Above them, the horizontal tracks can be seen.

Side mounted springs are coupled with safety cables that run above and parallel to the door tracks on either side of your garage door.

In other words, there will be two springs, one on each side of the garage door, one above each track.

How to adjust side mounted garage door springs?

The springs’ high-tension steel has a finite lifespan, and they will eventually lose their effectiveness and need to be adjusted or replaced.

And since working with springs under stress can be risky, you can always opt to call for a professional.

However, if you have the experience and tools needed for the work, you can try to do it on your own.

Here are the steps on how to adjust side mounted garage door springs.

STEP 1: Gather the tools needed

To do this, you will need some personal protective equipment and some basic tools.

Hat, glasses, and gloves are among the necessary safety items that you will need.

The following are some of the additional tools:

• Ladder
• C-clamp
• Marker
• Masking tape
• Adjustable wrench

STEP 2: Fully open your garage door

Before attempting to adjust the tension of the springs, make sure they are free of any tension.

So, you will need to open your garage door entirely.

And once it is fully opened, pull the emergency cord below and back until the spring is stuck in the open position.

STEP 3: Keep your garage door in place

Make sure the door does not  fall open while you work on the springs.

Placing a C-clamp beneath the bottom roller is the best way to ensure this.

The roller will be held in place by the C-clamp.

STEP 4: Disengage the spring hook

When you try to remove the spring hook, you will see that it is attached to the track hanger by a huge hook.

This larger hook, in turn, is held in place by a nut.

To remove the nut and, by extension, the spring hook, you will need an adjustable wrench.

STEP 5: Adjust the tension of the spring

If your door is not entirely closing, you will need to lower the tension in its springs to repair the problem.

Attach the spring hook to a lower hole on the track hanger to do this.

On the other hand, when your door opens or closes far too quickly, you will need to tighten the spring tension.

Attach the spring to the track hangar’s higher hole.

STEP 6: Adjust the tension of the cable

As previously stated, side mounted springs come with safety cables.

To fix the problem, you may need to adjust the tension of the cable as well as the tension of the spring.

Tighten the knot that links the cable to the spring if you need to increase the cable’s tension.

Otherwise, extend the knot if you need to loosen it to relieve the tension.

When to call a professional?

Compared to torsion springs, side mounted springs are easiest to adjust.

That is why, you can adjust it yourself.

But, if the task seems to be too unnerving, you can always contact Beaver Garage Doors Portland to help you with all your garage door needs.

We have experienced and well-trained garage door technicians that have the essential expertise and tools to assist you.

We are known for providing excellent, safe, and efficient services.

Contact us for the best garage door repair in Portland and a FREE quotation on our services.