what to look for in your new exterior door

Having a tough time opening and closing your garage door? If your garage door relies on torsion springs, then the springs may need to be readjusted. Torsion spring adjustments are normally done by trained professionals, but you can also perform this essential task yourself as long as you keep the following steps and safety precautions in mind.

Safety First

Whenever you're working on any aspect of your garage door's torsion springs, safety should always be your first and foremost concern. Here are a few tips that can help you stay safe as you adjust your torsion springs:

• Always use a sturdy step ladder when making your adjustments. You should never use chairs, books or other objects to create makeshift platforms, since doing so could lead to serious injuries.
• Always position your head and body away from the torsion spring as you make your adjustments. This will help keep you out of harm's way in case the adjustment bar happens to slip out of the adjustment collar.
• If your garage door uses two torsion springs, you'll need to adjust both springs at the same rate. Otherwise, the differences in tension could cause a malfunction later on.

Don't forget to disconnect the garage door opener from its power source. This can be done by unplugging the garage door opener from its power outlet or by shutting it off at the circuit breaker. You should also disconnect your garage door from the opener by pulling the emergency release cord. This will keep your garage door from opening unexpectedly as you make your adjustments.

How to Make Your Adjustments

After making sure the garage door is closed and disconnected from the garage door opener, attach a C-clamp just above the bottom-most roller on the garage door track. This will ensure that the garage door stays closed throughout the procedure.

Next, locate the adjustment collar on the shaft of the torsion spring. You'll need to insert an 18 to 24-inch long adjustment rod into the 1/2-inch diameter recesses on the collar. Insert one rod into the adjustment collar, making sure that the rod is held at a roughly 90-degree angle. Locate the set screw on the adjustment collar and carefully loosen it with your free hand.

Insert another adjustment rod and carefully turn the collar in 1/4 increments. Turn the collar in the same direction that the garage door cable passes over the pulley to raise the opening force of the door. Turning the collar in the opposite direction reduces the door's closing force.

After making your adjustments, you'll want to carefully tighten the set screw. Make sure it's firmly in place before you remove the adjustment rods. Repeat the above for your second torsion spring, if there is one. When you're done, don't forget to remove the C-clamp and reconnect your garage door opener.

How Often to Adjust the Torsion Springs

Unlike many other aspects of garage door maintenance, there's no hard answer on how often you should make the above adjustments. In most cases, you only need to make adjustments if your garage door becomes exceptionally easy or difficult to open and close. To prevent unnecessary adjustments, you should rule out other potential maintenance issues such as a lack of lubrication.

If you find yourself constantly adjusting your torsion springs, then the springs may be worn out and in need of replacement. The average torsion spring is capable of lasting up to 7 years before it needs replacing. Although it's possible for you to replace your own torsion springs on your own, it's usually a good idea to have an experienced contractor tackle the job instead.

For more information, contact a local garage repair company like Crawford Door Company.