Are you wondering what’s wrong with your garage door? Is it making a lot of noise, running strange, or not working at all?
It could be that your garage springs are failing. Keep reading to learn about the springs and what happens when they don’t work right. If you don’t think it’s the springs check out these other common garage door problems.
Types of Garage Springs
Garage doors are heavy. The weight varies depending on size and insulation, but they can be a couple hundred pounds.
The average person is not able to lift the door open by hand. And that much weight wears out an automatic system very fast.
That’s where garage door springs come in. They work by counteracting the force of gravity and making the door “lighter”.
There are two main types of garage springs–torsion and extension. You can often find torsion springs at the top of the garage door. These balance the door and exert both a pushing and a pulling force.
Extension springs are often found at the sides. These stretch out as the door goes down, helping it to go slower. As the door comes up they exert a pulling force as they seek to return to their scrunched state.
How Long Do They Last?
Torsion springs will last longer than extension springs in general. Of course, it depends on the spring that you buy.
You can buy torsion springs rated for 10,000, 20,000 or 30,000 cycles. A cycle is opening and closing the door one time. For reference, if you open your door 4 times a day, in 10 years you will open it 15,000 times.
Extension springs may last somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 cycles. For both types, the weight of the door and the size of the spring affects the life of the spring.
Are They Worn Out?
Sometimes it’s easy to tell if you have a broken spring. Looking at it you can see that is has snapped or is bent. If you are home at the time you may even hear it break. Some people liken it to the sound of a gunshot.
There are a few other indications that show the springs are on their way out. The door may make a lot more racket opening and closing. You may hear unusual creaking or scraping sounds. The door may move too slow, too fast, or not all at all.
Garage Door Safety
If you know or suspect that you have a broken spring, be super cautious. The springs are a big part of the safety mechanism for your garage door. It is dangerous when they are not working.
For example, your door is open and you realize that a spring has snapped. To not put extra pressure on the opener motor, you decide to disconnect the door and close it by hand.
That’s a bad idea. The springs are what make the door manageable by hand. Without them, even if only one is broken, the door will be very heavy.
If you disconnect the door it could slam down on its own. If anybody is under it they will get hurt.
Replacing Your Springs
Because of the pressure that springs exert, replacing them is dangerous. Serious injury can occur if you don’t know what you’re doing.
You will be better off calling in the professionals. We even offer same day service so we’ll get you back in business fast!