With the average cost of a garage door installation now ranging between $600 and $1500, it is essential to get it done right the first time. That’s why it is important to perfectly level a garage door upon installation.
If a garage door is not leveled, several problems may arise. For one, the resulting gap at the bottom of the door can allow water to leak inside, causing damage to your car and anything else in the garage. An unleveled garage door might also close too quickly, potentially presenting a real physical danger.
If you want to learn how to level a garage door the right way, here’s what you need to know.
-
Test the Door
The first step when dealing with garage door levels is to test your door mechanisms. For this, you can move your garage door up and down until you identify exactly where the leveling is off.
Move it up and down until you find the point where the door no longer stays suspended on its own. The higher up off the ground this point is, the more uneven your door is.
-
Switch Off the Power
Before making any garage door adjustments, you must switch off the power at the fuse box.
The last thing you want is a nasty electrical shock or power outage.
-
Look at the Garage Door Cables
One of the best garage door leveling tips we can offer is to check the condition of the cables on your door.
It could be that the cables have rusted or have endured too much wear and tear and can no longer perform their function. If this is the case, you will need to have your garage door cables replaced.
-
Adjust the First Cable Drum
When leveling a garage door, the most likely problem is simply the cables on either side of the door are uneven. The first drum to address will depend on which side of your door dips down lower.
If your door is lower on the right-hand side, you will want to start by adjusting the right-hand cable drum. If the door is lower on the left-hand side, then start there. Turn the setscrews on the drum to raise the door to an even level.
-
Adjust the Second Cable Drum
After you have made the first adjustment, head to the cable drum on the other side of the door, use a permanent marker to make a mark on the drum and then another mark around one-quarter of an inch above it (if the gap is an inch).
Use a vice grip to hold the shaft in place as you adjust the cable drum. Turn the setscrew until the marks line up, and you are good to go.
Consult the Experts on How to Level a Garage Door
Knowing how to level a garage door is one thing, but getting the job done right is another. That’s why it is sometimes necessary to call in the experts.
If you are having trouble with your garage door, do not hesitate to get in touch with our professional repair team, who will be able to quickly resolve any issue you might have.
