How To Know If You Have A Properly Balanced Garage Door

Garage doors that are properly balanced can prevent costly repairs, not to mention protect you from injury or property damage. However, most homeowners don’t know how to check if they are balanced or not. We will explain how you can perform a simple inspection to see if your garage door is properly balanced. We will also address some common problems that cause unbalance and what you can do about it.

The most important aspect of any garage door opener system is whether the door is properly balanced. If you have an unbalanced garage door, it can cause a variety of issues.

An unbalanced garage door can: 

• Be very hard to open or close
• Fall off the tracks
• Force your garage door opener to work harder, adding unnecessary wear and tear

Knowing you have a properly balanced garage door should give you peace of mind knowing that the door will not fall off the tracks and that your opener will last a long time because it is running efficiently.

If a garage door is unbalanced, usually it is because either the springs aren’t providing enough tension to counterbalance the weight of the door or the springs are exerting too much force. In either case, the added strain gets placed on the opener mechanism. When the opener is forced to lift more weight than it was designed to, the drive gears, carriages, sprockets, and couplers get stripped, eventually causing the opener to break down prematurely.

An improperly balanced garage door shows signs of wear and tear much more quickly than a properly balanced one. It can also lead to various issues and potential safety hazards. Here are some of the most common signs that your door is unbalanced:

• Difficulty Opening or Closing: If you notice that your garage door is becoming increasingly difficult to open or close smoothly, it could be a sign of improper balance. An unbalanced door may require more effort to operate, or it may feel heavy and get stuck at certain points during its movement.
• Uneven Movement: When your garage door is in motion, observe its movement carefully. An unbalanced door may exhibit uneven or jerky movement. It may tilt to one side, sag in the middle, or appear misaligned during operation.
• Noisy Operation: An improperly balanced garage door can produce excessive noise during opening or closing. You may hear grinding, scraping, or squeaking sounds as the door moves along the tracks. These noises can be a result of the door rubbing against the tracks or other components due to imbalance.
• Door Closes Too Quickly: A garage door that slams shut abruptly instead of closing smoothly and gradually indicates an imbalance. If your door comes crashing down when you release it manually, it's likely that the springs are not properly counterbalancing the weight of the door.
• Sagging or Crooked Appearance: Stand inside your garage with the door closed and visually inspect its position. An improperly balanced door may exhibit a sagging or crooked appearance when closed. One side may appear lower than the other, or there may be visible gaps or misalignment between the door and the frame.
• Worn or Damaged Components: Check the condition of the cables, springs, rollers, and other hardware of your garage door. If any of these components show signs of excessive wear, fraying, or damage, it may be an indication of an imbalance or improper functioning.

If your garage door starts getting louder than normal when it is opening or closing, that is a good sign the door may be imbalanced. Listen to the door as it opens and closes for any unusual noises. If you hear any squeaking, knocking, or grinding noises, that may be a strong signal that there is an issue with the door’s balance. When properly balanced, it will run smoothly and quietly.

If you’re still not sure, then there are some simple ways to tell if your garage door is unbalanced.

• Disconnect the Opener: Start by disconnecting the garage door opener from the door. This step ensures that the opener does not interfere with the assessment and allows you to operate the door manually.
• Close the Door: Lower the garage door fully and observe its behavior as it reaches the closed position. Pay attention to any signs of imbalance during this process.
• Release the Door: Once the door is fully closed, pull the emergency release cord to disengage the opener's connection to the door. This allows you to operate the door manually.
• Lift the Door: Standing inside the garage, attempt to lift the door manually. A balanced door should lift smoothly and with minimal effort. If the door feels heavy or becomes difficult to lift, it may be an indication of an imbalance.
• Test at Different Points: With the door fully closed, lift the door manually to different positions (such as one-third or halfway open) and let go. Observe how the door behaves when left at those positions. A balanced door should remain in place without abruptly moving up or down. If the door quickly rises or falls, it suggests an imbalance.
• Observe the Roller Tracks: Inspect the roller tracks on both sides of the door. If the tracks appear uneven or if the door rubs against them at any point during movement, it may indicate an imbalance.
• Check the Springs: Inspect the springs (either extension or torsion springs) located above the door. Look for signs of visible damage, such as stretching, gaps, or gaps between coils. If the springs appear to be in poor condition, it can contribute to an unbalanced door.

It's important to note that while these steps can provide an initial assessment of your garage door's balance, a professional evaluation by a garage door technician is recommended.

There are many factors that go into the price of balancing a garage door. Just some of those include the type of door, the material, the size, the location (residential or commercial), the climate/area, and the economy near you. In addition, how long your garage door has been unbalanced could play into it. For example, taking care of the problem as soon as there are signs of an issue will often be less expensive than waiting until the off-balance causes further damage. If you’re in the South Florida area, you can contact Door Gators for a quote.

The best way to prevent garage door imbalance is to have it regularly serviced and maintained. You can perform simple DIY garage door maintenance about twice per year yourself and contact your local repair company for a more thorough inspection and service once annually.