Replacement Of Garage Door Springs: What Should You Know?

by Secure for Sure LLC. Garage Door Repair, Replacement, Maintenance & Ins

Repairs to the garage door spring almost always involve complete replacement of the springs. It is because springs generally do their job very well to the point where they fail completely – that is, when they break. The springs make it much easier to raise and lower the door. They generally last longer, but nothing is permanent. Climate changes, improper installation, lack of maintenance may cause weaken the metal and leads to a pause. In these situations, a complete garage door spring replacement service is required. Get in touch with “Secure For Sure”, the pioneer company in garage door repair, maintenance and installation services.

How to know that a spring has broken?

Most people don't realize that the garage door spring is broken until they realize that the automatic door opening is making a lot more noise than usual, or that it's not working very well. Garage doors can weigh several hundred pounds. The springs usually break when they are fully stretched or twisted under tension, and can sound like a gunshot. If you are at home when this happens, you will probably hear it and not know what it is. Later, you will realize that something is wrong with your garage door as it is not performing as it should.

Security warning

If you have a garage door opener and you suspect a spring has broken, do not disconnect the door opener by pulling the red emergency release lever while the door is open. If you do, the door can collapse, with nothing to stop it. This is an extremely dangerous situation. It is never safe to leave the door open when a spring breaks because someone may try to close the door without realizing how heavy it is. If you want to leave the door open until you can make repairs, lock the door latch on both sides so that the door cannot move and disconnect the garage door open button. If you want to close the door, you can try to close it with the opener, making sure there is nothing in the way of the door.

Types of garage door springs

Most residential garage doors have one of two types of springs – torsion and extension. Torsion springs are sturdy springs mounted on a metal rod. Extension springs are long, lighter springs, perpendicular to the door and mounted above the horizontal parts of the door tracks. These springs are tensioned by stretching, using cables and pulleys. If you have old springs that do not have safety cables, you should install safety cables even if you are not replacing the springs.

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DIY or hire a professional?

The fact is that a practical owner who is competent with tools and has a basic understanding of mechanical systems can replace any type of garage door spring. The procedures are very simple, but involve many steps that must be done in the correct order, just as professionals do. But, how many people have this kind of skill and knowledge regarding garage door spring replacement? In any case, working with large, heavy springs is inherently dangerous. Always count on professionals.