A Complete Guide to Garage Door Spring Repair
Many people that come and go through the garage take little to no notice of the moving parts of their garage door. One part that often goes overlooked is the garage door springs, but this is one area you don’t want to neglect!
Why? An estimated 30,000 people per year get injured by a garage door. If you have broken garage door springs and you try to fix this on your own, you could get seriously hurt.
Familiarizing yourself with your garage door and the purpose springs serve can help you spot warning signs and understand when to call in the pros. These springs are under a great deal of tension and can cause injury when not properly maintained or fixed.
Here’s everything you need to know about garage door spring repair, including what to do when they break.
Understanding the Different Garage Door Spring Types
There are two types of garage door springs. Before you start fiddling with your garage and trying to fix broken garage door springs, you need to understand how they work.
The two types are extension springs and torsion springs. Extension springs can be further subcategorized into open-looped, double-looped, and clipped-end extension spring styles. The different torsion springs are standard, steel rolling door, early-set, and torque master. If this all sounds a little too complex, you should probably skip the YouTube tutorials and call a professional garage door repair service. Not only will they know what they’re dealing with, but they’ll also have the right equipment and know-how of how to fix the issue.
Signs of Broken Garage Door Springs
Not sure if you need repairs? Let’s go over some warning signs of a faulty spring next. Don’t ignore these signs, or you could be putting your safety and your family’s safety at risk.
Slack Cables Do your garage door cables look looser than they should? Slack cables can be a sign of torsion spring failure. When your garage door is functioning as intended, these cables should stay in place.
Door Doesn’t Open Fully
Is your garage door only opening part of the way? Torsion springs will support the weight of a garage door, and if they’re not working right, it can be tough opening the door all the way.
Broken doors may only open around six inches but won’t go any further.
Door Is Heavy
When trying to manually open the garage door, does it seem heavier than usual? This is another sign you need a garage door spring repair as the springs are likely broken.
Crooked Garage Door
A crooked garage door means one of the springs needs repair. When one side isn’t working right, it won’t pull the garage door closed the right way. Your door can even get stuck if you don’t get this fixed.
Gaps In The Spring
Large gaps in your springs indicate that spring needs replacing and fast. Springs should be tightly wound without visible gaps. If you notice gapping, that’s a sure sign you need to call a garage door repair service.
Loud Noises
Loud, abnormal noises are usually a sign something is wrong, and a banging sound from your garage is a solid warning flag you need to get the springs fixed. This can sound like a bang as the spring unwinds and creates a loud noise.
Door Closes Too Fast
When you close the garage door, does it seem like it’s slamming closed? Broken springs can cause the door to close much faster than it should, which is obviously a safety issue. Imagine children or pets getting in the way of a garage door that closes too fast!
Door Doesn’t Open Right
Yet another warning sign you need garage door spring repair services is a jerky door. Your garage door should open fluidly, and a jerky motion often indicates broken springs.
The Emergency Release Rope Doesn’t Work
The emergency release rope lets you open the garage door manually, but what if you pull it and you still can’t open the door? A broken counterbalance spring can make your garage door excessively heavy—too heavy to even open unless you’ve got the strength for it.
Tools Needed for Inspection
While we don’t advise attempting a DIY fix for broken garage door springs, you can take a look at the problem and identify the cause of your garage door woes. This can give both you and your repair company more insight into the problem.
Here are some tools you’ll need:
- Sturdy ladder
- Safety glasses
- Mechanic’s gloves
Identify the type of springs you have, and take note of any of the warning signs we mentioned earlier, like gaps in the springs or slack cables. If you notice these warning signs, make sure to tell your garage door repair company. Be careful around your broken garage door, and don’t let kids or pets near it until the door is once again fixed and working properly.
Why Call the Pros?
Sure, it will cost more to have a professional fix your garage door, but isn’t your safety and the safety of your family worth it? Broken garage door springs can turn into projectiles due to the tension and can cause serious bodily harm. An improperly installed garage door can easily send someone to the emergency room.
Trained technicians can protect your vehicles and property from damage, too.
Preventing Damage in the Future
We can’t pinpoint the exact moment something will break, but regular maintenance can keep your garage door functioning and prevent safety hazards. Ideally, you should have someone come to service the garage door once a year. Garage door technicians can look for warning signs and fix any issues before they become problematic. When you need garage door opener repair, don’t wait to call. You should also conduct regular maintenance and do monthly safety checks. These can include listening for noises, checking the sensors, and seeing if you can open the garage manually.
Garage Door Spring Repair Made Easy
Fixing a broken garage door can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be if you take the right precautions.
Do you need repair services? We offer all types of emergency garage door repair.
If you need a garage door spring repair, give us a call! We’ll set up an appointment so you can once again use your garage door safely.
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