Understanding Your Broken Garage Door Spring
Does your garage door have a faulty or broken spring? If yes, then this can be frustrating to you and the whole household.
As you open and close the door, the springs do a lot of work like stretching. Sometimes, they even stay in a stretched position fully. The more strain you put on those springs, the more likely they are to completely fail. This will result in the rising and falling of your garage door unevenly and may cause it to crash down.
The spring tension should be strong enough to keep a garage door in good working order. However, replacement is sometimes necessary and it should be done by garage door service professionals. Changing the broken garage door spring on your own is potentially dangerous and may cause serious injury.
Read on to learn more about your garage door spring including the reasons why they break.
Two Types of Garage Door Springs
The following two types of garage door springs are reliable and create the necessary counterbalance that makes garage doors operate smoothly. However, they are designated for various types of garages.
1. Torsion Springs
The most common type of garage door system is the torsion spring system. They wind around a shaft that is attached to the garage door by-way-of cable drums to a twisting force that causes rotation.
The garage door spring has tools like the winding bars which you need to safely wind and adjust the tension on your torsion springs. Each bar has an outside diameter of 0.5 inches on each end which fits winding cones mostly on residential doors. In addition, the size and weight of the doors determine the length of the torsion spring and the number of needed springs.
2. Extension Springs
This type of spring is attached to the cables or pulleys of the counterbalance assembly. As the garage door opens, the spring extends and creates a counterbalance that supports the door. Same with torsion springs, extension springs are different and depend on the garage door’s weight.
Extension springs are more affordable and offer more functionality compared to torsion springs. However, torsion springs last longer and are safer than extension springs. No matter what spring you have, proper maintenance is required to keep them working in the best condition.
Garage Door Springs: What causes them to break?
You can’t sometimes avoid having issues with your door especially when the garage door spring breaks. You may hear sounds when opening or closing the garage door or it cannot be lifted even when using the emergency rope. In cases like this, you will need a replacement that should be done by a garage door spring repair expert. Check the following common culprits:
- Closing and opening your garage door several times a day makes it susceptible to wear and tear. The garage door springs can last for an extended period but won’t last forever.
- The common enemy of metals is rust. As time passes and since garage door springs are built with metal, rust can build up. The lifespan of the springs will be reduced and eventually weakens the coil on the door.
- Poor maintenance causes a broken garage door spring. So before a significant issue arises, do regular maintenance. This can help in preserving your garage door springs and making them last longer.
Garage Door Spring Replacement: When is the best time?
Both types of garage door springs can last around seven to nine years. However, it will wear out faster depending on how often you use it. Remember, extreme caution is needed when doing the replacement and must be done by a professional. Here are some things to watch out for as to when you will replace a garage door spring.
- When you hear a loud bang, the sound is possibly coming from the unwinding of the spring.
- There is a gap in the central part of the torsion spring, it means that it is broken.
- When the garage door bends at the top, it means that there is a broken garage door spring.
- The garage door’s entire weight drops down.
- When the door doesn’t open because the rope is pulled.
- The door moves up the track, it will cause a crooked movement. This happens when only one spring is broken on the side.
- When the mechanism of the door can’t carry it smoothly though it can lift the door but will cause jerky movements.
Professional Garage Door/Spring Repair and Replacement Services
Some people think that replacing the garage door torsion springs is quite easy. However, there are things to consider like knowing the number of quarter turns in relation to the height of the garage door. Moreover, knowing the proper position of your body when trying to fix the door spring is another factor to consider to prevent injury.
It is better to leave the repair and replacement of your broken garage door spring to an experienced garage door repair pro!
Call us today, Overhead Door Company of the Inland Empire. We also provide commercial garage door maintenance and inspection services.
