How do I know I have the correct Springs?

How do I know I have the correct Springs and if my garage door is balanced?

It’s important to always have the right garage door springs and a balanced garage door. Checking if your garage door is balanced can be done without calling a
C and M garage door technician. In order to prevent, injury or possible destruction of property, it’s advisable to always call a garage door expert when the garage door is out of balance, sticks out or doesn’t reverse as required. The following parts in the garage system are under a lot of tension: pulleys, door springs, brackets, and cables and should not be moved, adjusted or loosened at any given time (!)

A simple test can be carried out to determine whether the garage door is balanced or not. The following simple steps can be used to check if you have the right springs and whether the garage door is balanced:

1. Close the garage door.

2. Disconnect the garage door from the garage door opener:
• A chain/ belt driven opener using a 5piece square rail pull the manual release rope down
• A belt driven system using a T-rail pull the manual release rope down, but backwards towards the motor unit.
• A screw driven opener, just pull the manual straight down.
• A jackshaft opener, pull the manual down till you hear a click then release the rope.

3. Open and close the door by hand when the garage door is still disconnected. The door is supposed to move easily, but if the garage door sticks or binds then lubricate the door tracks, hinges and rollers and also get rid of any obstructions. Try closing and opening the door again, if the door still sticks, call a professional to help.

4. Open the garage door, stop at the first section and release it when it. The door should not drop or go up. The springs should be able to hold the door in place. It’s ok if the door slowly rises up or falls gently. The door is out of balance if it slams shut or shoots upwards with a great force.

5. Raise the door and stop at the next section. The door should be balanced in every section. Also when the door is all the way up.

6. If the garage door is balanced and doesn’t stick or bind, carefully reattach the garage door to the opener.
• Chain /belt driven opener using a 5 piece square rail, pull the manual release rope down and backwards towards the motor unit.
• Chain/ belt driven opener using a T rail, pull the manual release rope straight down. Activate the garage door opener and the door automatically reconnects.
• Screw driven opener, pull the manual release down and back towards the motor unit.
• Jackshaft opener, pull down on the manual release until you hear a click then release the rope

In summary the test involves: closing the door manually and detaching the automatic opener, if present. Lift the door and stop at each section and carefully let go. Be attentive and ready for any sudden movement. If the garage door is heavy to lift it means your door is not balanced properly. That may mean you have the wrong springs installed, or your door needs a tune up. If the door continues to rise and it feels like you have to pull it down to stay halfway, it other means your springs are wound to tight or you have the wrong springs installed.

The process of balancing a garage door involves determining the relationship between the springs used to counter the weight of the garage door and the weight of the garage door. When garage doors are out of balance they tend to cause the opener to break faster as it needs to work much harder to move the door. A balanced door will be help keep the opener in perfect condition for many years. If the door manually operates, then proper balancing of the door will allow you to lift the door and close it with minimal effort.