How to Adjust the Tension on a Garage Door Spring
Heads up before you grab a wrench: which spring you have changes everything. Extension springs (the long springs that run parallel to the tracks above each side of the door) can be carefully adjusted by a steady DIYer. A torsion spring (the tightly wound coil mounted on a metal shaft directly above the door) is not a DIY job — it stores enough energy to break a hand, wrist, or worse, and pros adjust it in quarter-turn increments with winding bars. The safe DIY answer is this: for extension springs, open the door fully so the spring goes slack, then move the spring's S-hook or the lift cable to a different hole on the track hanger to add or release tension. If you have a torsion spring, stop here and call a pro.
Step by step
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1
Figure out which spring you have — and stop now if it's torsion
Look above the closed door. A single tightly wound coil on a horizontal metal bar across the header is a torsion spring — do not adjust it yourself. Two long springs stretched along the tracks above each side of the door are extension springs, which you can safely adjust. The rest of these steps are for extension springs only. If yours is torsion, call a technician; the energy stored in that coil is no joke.
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2
Open the door all the way and lock it in place
With the door fully open, the extension springs are at their most relaxed — that's the only safe time to touch them. Pull the manual release cord to disconnect the opener, raise the door completely, then clamp a locking pliers (like Vise-Grips) onto the track just below the bottom roller on both sides. This keeps the door from dropping while you work. Never adjust a spring on a closed or partially open door.
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3
Check the balance to see if you even need an adjustment
Lower the door to about halfway and let go. A well-balanced door holds its position. If it slams down, the spring tension is too loose. If it pops back up, the tension is too tight. This tells you which direction to adjust — and whether the two sides are pulling evenly. Raise the door fully and re-clamp before changing anything.
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4
Move the spring hook or cable to change tension
With the door open and clamped, the spring should be slack enough to unhook by hand. To increase tension, move the spring's S-hook (or the lift cable's end) up to the next hole on the track hanger or adjustable bracket. To decrease tension, move it down a hole. Adjust both springs by the same amount so the door pulls evenly — uneven springs make a door rack and bind.
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5
Re-test, then fine-tune one hole at a time
Remove the clamps, reconnect the opener if you disconnected it, and run the door up and down by hand a few times. Re-check the halfway balance. If it's still off, repeat the adjustment one hole at a time on both sides until the door holds steady at any height and moves smoothly. Small changes go a long way, so resist the urge to over-tighten.
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6
Confirm safety cables are intact before you call it done
Every extension spring should have a safety cable running through its center, anchored at both ends. That cable is what stops a snapped spring from flying across your garage. While you're in there, make sure each one is present and undamaged. If a safety cable is missing or frayed, fix that before you do anything else — it's the single most important safety feature on an extension-spring door.
When to call a pro
Call a pro the moment you see a torsion spring (the coil on a bar above the door), if the spring is broken, rusted, or has visible gaps in the coil, or if the door is heavy, racked, or won't stay balanced no matter what you try — torsion adjustment in particular sends thousands of homeowners to the ER each year and should always be left to a trained, insured technician.
Call (888) 290-7421Frequently asked
Can I adjust my garage door spring myself?
It depends on the spring. Extension springs — the long ones running along the tracks — can be adjusted by a careful DIYer with the door fully open and clamped, by moving the spring hook or cable to a different hole. Torsion springs, the coil mounted on a bar above the door, should never be DIY'd. They store enormous energy and require winding bars and training to adjust safely. When in doubt, call a pro.
How do I know if my garage door spring is too loose or too tight?
Open the door to about halfway and let go. If it slams to the floor, the tension is too loose. If it springs upward on its own, the tension is too tight. A properly balanced door will stay roughly where you leave it at any height. That mid-point test is the quickest way to diagnose spring tension before and after any adjustment.
Why shouldn't I adjust a torsion spring myself?
A torsion spring is wound under tremendous tension, and if a winding bar slips or you use the wrong tool, that energy releases instantly — enough to break a hand or wrist or cause serious injury. It's one of the few garage door jobs we strongly urge homeowners to leave to a trained, insured technician who has the right winding bars and knows your door's exact spring size and weight.
How often do garage door springs need adjustment?
A healthy spring rarely needs adjusting on its own — most tension issues show up gradually as the spring ages and loses strength, typically over 7 to 12 years or roughly 10,000 cycles. If your door is suddenly hard to lift, won't stay open, or feels lopsided, that's usually a sign the spring needs adjustment or, more often, replacement rather than a simple tweak.
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