What You Should Know About Garage Door Springs

When garage door springs break, you’ll know. If you are nearby, the break will sound like a firecracker or a gunshot, with all the tension held in that spring coming loose in one quick moment. If you were not around, you find that opening or closing your garage door automatically may not work, and trying to open the door manually is difficult because of the weight. Garage doors are indeed heavy, and the springs can help hold on to all of that weight, which can fluctuate between 125-300 pounds. A typical spring will last for roughly five years, or 10,000 cycles (either opening or closing the door counts as one cycle). A garage door that is used multiple times daily can reach that limit, so a fix or replacement will be necessary. Because the springs are counted on for holding onto all of that weight and tension, repairing a garage door spring yourself can be a challenging and dangerous task. Before all else, know which type of spring is in your garage. A torsion spring is located inside a tube above the garage door, and if the spring breaks, it will stay inside that tube. An extension spring is located above the horizontal tracks, and if it breaks, it will remain in place, as long as the proper safety cable is installed. Before attempting any repairs, you need to be aware of the operation of the entire lifting system. The torsion spring inside the tube is attached to a drum that coils the lifting cables, which are then connected to brackets found at the bottom of a garage door. To help you visualize this when the door is shut, its lifting cables will be stretched just like the strings of a guitar. An extension spring is similar, except there is no tube. The rest of the above parts are interlocked similarly. Repairing a faulty garage door spring is a safety issue for you and your family. Help extend the lifetime of your springs with proper maintenance. Inspect your garage door springs twice a year and keep them lubricated. All components are in direct contacts with metal like rollers, hinges, and springs need regular lubrication. We recommend doing this maintenance each fall and spring since your door will see the most use in the wintertime. If your garage door spring breaks, close your garage door with the opener and unplug the unit, and then call the professionals at Environmental Door at 616-453-0164.