How To Tighten Garage Door Opener chain?
The Homeowners Guide To Chain Tension Adjustments
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How To Tighten A Loose Garage Door Opener Chain?
A loose garage door chain is quite common on chain drive garage door openers. Over time, regular use of the garage door and the weight of the garage door, which can exceed a hundred pounds, stretches the chain and eventually causes the chain to loosen.
This is where regular garage door maintenance can help.
If you notice your garage door chain making extra noise either due to rubbing or knocking against the rail, you likely have a loose garage door chain. The looser the chain gets, the higher chances of your garage door jumping off of its tracks leading to potential damage to your property and the integrity of the garage door system.
A loose garage door chain can also put extra strain and pressure on the garage door opener making things not just noisy but less efficient as well.
What Is The Proper Garage Door Chain Tension?
According to Chamberlain group, a leading manufacturer of garage door openers, the proper tension for a garage door chain is 1/2″ (for T-Rail) or 1/4 ” (for Square Rail) above the base of the rail at its midpoint.
A proper tensioned garage door should make little to no noise and not bounce off or knock on the garage door rail. This is a good rule of thumb to follow when adjusting the garage door chain.
How To Fix A Loose Garage Door Opener Chain?
Fixing a loose garage door opener chain is a relatively easy process and requires only a few steps. In some cases, this may require a garage door technician so please follow along carefully.
Steps To Tighten and Adjust The Garage Door Opener Chain Tension
- Close the garage door and disconnect it from the garage door opener
- Find and tighten the adjustment nut
- Reconnect power and reengage the opener & test
Step 1: Close The Garage Door and Disconnect It From The Garage Door Opener
In this step, we simply want to close the garage door to take any pressure off the garage door chain.
Disconnect the garage door from the garage door opener. If you have a square rail opener, pull the red manual release rope straight down. If you have a T-rail opener, pull the red manual release rope straight down and then back toward the motor unit. This will allow you to open and close the door by hand.
Step 2: Find and Tighten The Adjustment Nut
On the trolley assembly, there is a threaded fasten that is 5-7 inches long with two nuts screwed to it. One of these is the locking nut and the other is the adjustment nut. These nuts should be separated by a divider.
To adjust the tension, loosen the locking nut slightly, this will allow you to turn the adjustment nut which then adjusts the tension of your garage door opener chain.
Remember, the proper tension for a garage door chain is 1/2″ (for T-Rail) or 1/4 ” (for Square Rail) above the base of the rail at its midpoint.
Don’t overtighten the tension on the chain. As a good rule of thumb, it is better to be looser than tighter as being too tight puts more strain on the garage door opener.
When you are satisfied chain tension is the correct amount. Tighten the locking nut. This will need two wrenches, one for the adjustment nut and one to tighten the locking nut. Doing this will lock the adjustment nut in place.
Step 3: Reconnect Power and Reengage The Opener
Now that the chain has been adjusted and the locking nut is tightened it is time to reengage the opener and turn the power back on.
Do this and test your garage door opener to make sure everything is working properly.
Your chain should be good for at least a year, but if you notice your chain becomes loose frequently it may be a sign your chain or garage door opener needs to be replaced.
If you are curious about garage door repair pricing you can check out our guide here and if you are looking for a new garage door opener in Houston or surrounding areas you can see our services here
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