If you have an automatic opener to control your garage door, then you need to make sure that the device is always in working order. This means testing and maintaining it regularly, and one type of recommended test is called the balance test. Keep reading to learn what this is and how to complete it.
What Is A Balance Test?
A garage door balance test is when you check to make sure that there is just enough tension on the garage door. This allows it to open and close easily with little resistance. Balanced doors will also not slam shut or fall without slight pressure. If the garage door does not move as it should, then this is a sign that the springs need to be adjusted. These springs are either the torsion or extension varieties that sit overhead.
To complete the balance test, you will need to disengage the garage door from the opener. So, pull on the red release handle and make sure that it is completely free from the door. It can often take some strength to fully release the door, so pull on it hard. Afterward, you want to open the garage door by hand. Feel for any resistance. Close the door at this point and watch to see if it slams to the ground.
What Do You Do If The Garage Needs Balancing?
In some cases, your garage door springs may need to be replaced. They may simply be too tight as well, like in the case of a new installation. A garage door maintenance professional will need to complete any and all work involving the springs. They are under an extreme amount of pressure and can create an injury if they break or are removed without care.
Before you contact your garage door specialist, though, you want to make sure that the rollers and the tracks are as clean as possible. Sometimes, gritty dirt can stop the doors from moving as well as they should. Even a balanced door may have trouble, so use an all-purpose cleaner on the tracks and rinse thoroughly afterward.
Some lubricant can also help. You should use either a water-based or oil-based product depending on the type of rollers that are present. If you are unsure, speak with your garage door specialist.
If you want to know more about garage doors or if you think that your door may not be balanced correctly, speak with a garage door maintenance professional.