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| This maintenance project is really a good one. If you keep
your garage door balanced, it will put a lot less strain
on all its parts and should keep working trouble-free for
years. An out-of-balance garage door can close too quickly
and might be a hazard for kids and pets. |
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 Start with
the door about 3 feet above the ground. Move it up and
down until you find a place where the door stays when you
let go. If that point is more than 4 feet or less than 3
feet above the ground, you'll need to balance the door. |
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 Make sure
you adjust the door while it's open. This takes the
pressure off the door springs. Put a ladder under the door
to make sure it won't close accidentally while you're
working on it. |
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 Make sure
the spring is completely free of tension, then remove it
from the track hanger. If the door was closing too
quickly, move the spring to the next higher hole on the
bracket. If it was opening too quickly, move it to the
next lower hole. Move both springs, and retest the
balance. |
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 Close the
door and check with a level to make sure the door comes
down evenly on both sides. If it doesn't, adjust the
spring tension on each side of the door until it does. |
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 To make fine
adjustments, try adjusting the lifting cable instead of
the spring. The cable is attached to the door, and runs to
an S-hook that attaches to the track support. With the
door propped open, take the S-hook out of the support, and
tighten or loosen the cable as needed. |
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RELATED PROJECTS
Maintaining Garage Door Openers
Roll-Up Door Maintenance Tips
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