Which are the Signs of Garage Door Spring Damage

Do you recognize the signs of garage door spring damage? Learn how to spot extension and torsion spring problems and what to do in each case. If you own garage doors, you probably know the importance of springs. Without them, the door is kind of useless since it won't open. What garage door springs do apart from balancing the door is lifting it. And it takes great power to do that. It also takes great resistance and force to keep such heavy doors open and lower them down smoothly. What we are trying to say is no matter which way you see it, the role of garage door springs is essential. And therefore, it's helpful for you to know how to recognize their damage.

Does it matter which garage door springs you've got?

Your residential garage doors might utilize one torsion spring or a pair of extension springs. Yes, they are installed in a different way. And yes, there are differences between them just as there are differences between torsion springs – galvanized and oil tempered for instance. Extension springs are not the same either. There are differences between roll up and overhead door springs.

In turn, all springs are made to last for a specific span. An average residential garage door torsion spring would last for about 10,000 cycles (opening/closing of the door). This helps us…how? Well, it only helps in the sense of knowing how long your springs are expected to last. But this is not absolute since springs are affected by many things – whether or not they are the right ones for this specific garage door, the weather, their maintenance etc. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter which springs you own. Either type can become damaged and broken.

Why do garage door springs get damaged?

Garage door springs won't only break when their lifespan is completed. They also break prematurely. If you don't have a local garage door repair pro checking them out and taking care of them, they will become damaged and chances are that they will break earlier. Although we mentioned the main factors affecting their condition, it's vital to know that springs are coiled. Spring coils lose their elasticity over the years. After stretching and contracting, winding and unwinding repeatedly, they get too stretched to play their role right. Since they are made of steel, they are also susceptible to rust. And when springs are rusty, they will make noises and break easier. Such information is useful to you if you want to recognize their problems.

Which are the indications of damaged torsion and extension springs?

• You can't miss a broken spring. It will be split in two. If you don't notice it visually, you will know it when you press the garage door clicker. The door won't move. It's too heavy to be lifted without the help of the springs.
• The experience is similar when you are trying to lift the overhead garage door manually. If the spring is broken, the door will be heavy for you to lift.
• Did you notice damage on the upper part of the garage door? Does the door come up only a few inches and then stops? Does the garage door opener hums and the door won't go up? These are all signs that the springs are broken.
• Garage door extension springs are primarily used for counterbalance. So if the overhead door starts moving up slowly and is sagging on one side, it's most likely a sign that one of the two springs is broken.
• Is your overhead door noisy? That's a sign of spring damage. They make noises when they are rusty.
• The garage door cables often snap when the springs are broken.
• Spring damage is also indicated by a garage door coming down rather quickly.

Garage door spring repairs

You need to arrange garage door spring replacement if your springs are broken. There is no other solution to that. In order to check their condition, you can:

• Lift the door with the opener disengaged and see if the door slides down, is lifted up or remains open. If it doesn't stay open, you need to adjust the springs.
• Take a closer look without touching the springs or moving the door. You need to see if the coils are stretched and if the springs are rusty. In such cases, it's best to replace them.
• One way to prevent damage is to test the tension of the springs often and lubricate them regularly to keep them from getting rusty. These steps will help them perform well.