Garage door springs are an integral component of garage doors. After all, they alone are responsible for opening/closing the door.
Unfortunately, they are also often the most troubling part because they have a limited life and require replacement.
Are you now wondering whether your garage door springs are faulty and won’t last for long?
Don’t worry. Here’s a guide that will help you identify your faulty door spring and replace it.
Types of Garage Door Springs
Before delving into the details of how you can identify your broken garage springs, it’s important to know the spring types.
Generally, there are two most common types:
- Torsion
- Extension spring
Both springs function in different ways.
An extension spring is attached parallel to the track and extends/contracts as you lift your door. It uses cables and pulleys to function effectively. They have more parts, which means you’ll resort to garage door repair services more frequently.
In contrast, torsion springs are in the center of the garage door, and they turn to wound the cables up and down. They have a longer lifespan but are comparatively expensive.
When Should I Replace My Garage Door Spring?
Both garage door springs exhibit similar signs once they break.
Some of the ways in which you can identify whether your garage door springs are broken or not are as follows:
- When your garage door simply refuses to open, it’s a clear sign that one of the springs has worn out.
- Check for wear and tear for other door components. They can ultimately affect and put more tension on garage door springs.
- Do a manual test. Release the emergency cord so you can lift the door manually. Check to see if you can lift it easily. If springs are broken, the door will feel heavy.
- Check for gaps in the coil in your extension springs.
- If both sides are uneven, your springs might be damaged.
Why Do Garage Door Springs Break?
You will have to replace garage door springs in some years, but they will last for at least 10,000 cycles with proper care.
Primarily, they break for three reasons:
- Rusting can reduce their lifespan
- Wear and tear can increase friction and break them soon.
- No maintenance can increase the chance of wear and tear.
Can I Replace Door Springs on My Own?
Why use a garage door repair service when you can save money and replace springs on your own?
You can save, maybe, a hundred bucks by doing it on your own, but you’re exposed to some serious risks.
The springs may snap back at you, or the door may fall without any warning, which can cause serious injuries to you.
Unless you’re a professional and have the right tools, don’t try to do it on your own because you may hamper the entire system and start garage door installation all over.
A professional will fix your door within no time and adjust the tension perfectly, eliminating any danger.
Takeaway
You won’t realize the importance of garage door springs unless you have a garage and a vehicle stuck inside it. Before it gets to this, request a garage door repair St Louis specialist to fix your garage door.
Wondering where you can find one? Fortunately, Ultimate Garage Door can help you with garage door opener installation or fix an individual part – whatever you need.
Prevention is better than cure. So, get your garage doors checked today.