How to Adjust a Garage Door Spring: What to Know

Published Date: Oct 2, 2025

Even a garage door that worked fine yesterday can suddenly stall halfway or start making strange noises. If that’s the case, one of the most likely causes is the garage door springs. When they’re off balance, the door can become hard to lift or stop working properly. If you’re wondering how to adjust a garage door spring, this guide from 24H Garage Doors covers everything you need to know — from how to check tension to when it’s safe to make minor changes and why some repairs are best left to the professionals.

How to Check Garage Door Spring Tension

Before making any adjustments, start by testing the garage door spring tension. This helps you determine whether the springs are too loose, too tight, or properly balanced.

Follow these quick steps:

Pull the emergency release cord (usually a red handle near the opener track) to disconnect the garage door from the opener.
Manually lift the door until it’s halfway open.
Let go and observe what happens. If the door stays in place, your springs are likely in good shape. If it falls or shoots upward, the tension needs adjustment.

Catching spring issues early can help you avoid more serious breakdowns. For proactive maintenance, see our guide on how to prevent garage door springs from breaking.

How to Adjust Garage Door Springs and Cables

If your garage door uses extension springs — typically mounted along the horizontal tracks — it also relies on cables that run through pulleys and connect to the bottom brackets. These parts help keep the door balanced during operation.

When the cables become loose, worn, or misaligned, the door may lift unevenly or move in a jerky way. In some cases, small adjustments can be made by moving S-hooks or cable clips to a different hole in the hanger bracket to gently increase or decrease spring tension.

If you see any visible damage, stop and contact a professional — it’s safer to let a trained technician handle it than to risk injury or make the problem worse. Visit our page on garage door spring repair to explore the types of systems 24H Garage Doors services.

How to Adjust Overhead Garage Door Springs Safely

Overhead garage doors typically use torsion springs mounted just above the door. If you’ve been wondering how to adjust the torsion spring on a garage door, it’s important to know this isn’t a DIY project. Since torsion springs are tightly wound and operate under significant tension, adjusting them without the right tools or training can be dangerous. It’s a high-risk task that should always be handled by qualified experts.

Even a small mistake during the process can lead to serious injury, which is why it’s never safe to try adjusting torsion springs yourself. This kind of repair is best left to the skilled technicians at 24H Garage Doors, who have the experience and equipment to handle it safely.

How to Tighten a Garage Door Spring the Right Way

If you’ve tested your garage door spring tension and found it off, you might be wondering how to tighten a garage door spring. While adjusting spring tension can seem simple in theory, in practice, it’s a job best left to those with the proper training and tools.

If a professional determines that a minor adjustment is safe, the process usually includes:

Using proper steel winding bars (never makeshift tools)
Making small, even turns — usually no more than a quarter turn at a time
Rechecking the door’s balance after each adjustment

How to tighten garage door torsion springs may sound straightforward, but over-tightening can put unnecessary strain on the door or opener, often leading to costly repairs. In most cases, it’s safer and smarter to leave the job to a trained technician.

Summing Up

Understanding how to adjust garage door springs tension can help you catch small issues before they turn into bigger, costlier problems. Small adjustments might be manageable, but when torsion springs are involved, safety must come first. Let the experienced team at 24H Garage Doors handle the heavy lifting with the right tools and training. Contact us now to restore safe, smooth operation to your garage door.

For something we use every single day, the garage door doesn’t usually get much attention – at least until something goes wrong. When it does, broken springs are the most common issue. These components handle a lot of weight, opening and closing our doors thousands of times a year. Like any other mechanism, they do not last forever. Whether it’s wear and tear, weather impact, or a lack of maintenance, springs are bound to fail eventually. Here’s the good news! Most spring problems are preventable. With a little maintenance and care, you can keep your garage door springs working smoothly and avoid unexpected breakdowns. Let’s start by examining what causes garage door springs to break and then explore some simple strategies to keep them working longer.

Pro Tips to Maintain Your Garage Door Springs and Extend Their Lifespan

Maintaining garage door springs isn’t an easy task for homeowners. Knowing how hazardous this part of the garage door can be, many people prefer to leave it alone. However, understanding what you can do and what to avoid when taking care of your garage door is the key to a long-lasting mechanism. In this article, we will give you tips on maintaining your garage door springs so that you can go without costly repairs or replacements for years to come. 24H Garage Doors is your local garage door company, always ready to assist you with any issues related to your garage door and its parts, whether on-site or through our blog, where we publish articles based on our technicians' expertise.

What is the difference between torsion and extension springs

Garage door springs do the heavy lifting – literally. They balance the door’s weight, allowing it to open and close smoothly every time. That’s why choosing the right type of spring for your garage door is more important than you might think. The wrong one can cause frequent breakdowns, uneven movement, or even create safety risks. Luckily, understanding the difference between torsion springs and extension springs can help you avoid these issues. With the right spring, your garage door will operate smoothly, reliably, and safely. Whether you’re planning an upgrade or just curious about how your garage door system works, this guide will help you better understand the basics and make informed decisions.