Does Your Garage Door's Chain Need Adjusting? Learn How To Do It Yourself

Posted on: 29 October 2015

At some point, the chain for your home's garage door will need adjusting. This is because the chain becomes slightly stretched, or the door's mechanics change due to wear and tear. That's why it's so important to know how the chain can be adjusted to help the garage door move smoothly when in use.

Step 1 – Safety First

Start by putting your garage door in the closed position and unplugging the opener. If for some reason you don't have plug access because the motor is hardwired into the electrical system, shut it down at the breaker box.

Step 2 – Release The Door

There should be a rope located on the opener. It is the door's emergency release mechanism, and can be found on the garage door's motor carriage. You'll need to give this rope a tug in order to release your garage door so it is no longer connected to the track while performing adjustments.

Step 3 – Locate The Adjustment Bolt

Use a stepladder to reach the garage door opener's carriage assembly. You'll need to locate a bolt on the side, which connects the opener to the metal rail. This is called the adjustment bolt, and is connected directly to the chain.

Step 4 – Tighten The Adjustment Bolt

All you need is the correct sized wrench to tighten the adjustment bolt. Turn it clockwise to make the chain tighter, and counter-clockwise to make it looser. You do not want to make the chain as tight as possible. It should have a little bit of sag in it so that it can move, but not sag to the point where it is touching the garage door or any other parts of the opener.

Step 5 – Reattach The Garage Door

You can use the safety rope to pull your garage door back into position so that it can be reattached to your garage door's opener. It is now safe to plug your garage door's opener back in, or flip on the circuit at your breaker box.

Step 6 – Test The Garage Door

Open your garage door, and pay close attention to how the chain is moving. The chain should not be bouncing, and should smoothly move across the tracks. If you notice bouncing, then the chain isn't tight enough. You'll need to start the process over and give the adjustment bolt a few extra turns.

That's all there is to it. Performing simple maintenance like this will keep your garage door in great shape for years to come. For more infromation or assistance, contact a comopany like Doors/Windows Unlimited Inc.

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