Garage door springs create the tension needed to open and close your garage door smoothly.
There are two kinds of garage door springs: torsion springs and extension springs. Torsion springs are typically mounted horizontally on the wall above the door. Extension springs are mounted on the sides of your garage door track (not above the door).
What’s the average lifespan of a garage door spring?
Most garage door springs are designed to open and close a garage door 10,000 times. If you use your garage door four times a day, this equates to a seven year lifespan for the average spring.
However, there are conditions that make your springs more likely to break earlier. You may need to replace your garage door springs more frequently if you meet one or more of these conditions:
- You use your garage door frequently – heavy usage speeds up wear and tear.
- Cold and/or humid environments can decrease your springs’ lifespan – rust and corrosion weaken the metal of the spring.
- You have a heavier garage door (glass doors, double doors, certain kinds of wood doors, custom doors, etc). Heavy garage doors can place more pressure on your springs and cause them to wear out sooner.
You can increase your springs’ lifespan by making sure your door is properly balanced and having a professional regularly inspect, maintain, rebalance, and lubricate your garage doors.
We Use
EXTENSION SPRINGS
Sectional garage doors are hinged, and bend as the door opens or closes. Many times a sectional garage door uses extension springs to balance the door.
TORSION SPRINGS
Torsion Springs are used to balance the weight of a garage door. With the help of torsion springs that are working properly, you will be able to life the garage door manually or with a garage door opener with ease.
They Use
EXTENSION SPRINGS
TORSION SPRINGS
Signs your garage door springs need to be replaced
Not sure if it’s time to replace your garage door springs? Here are the most common signs your springs are close to failure:
- Squeaking or banging
- Cables are worn, frayed, or rusted
- Issues with safety cables or missing safety cables
- Gaps between the coils of the springs
- Garage door doesn’t move up or down smoothly
- Garage door is off balance or out of alignment – if your door doesn’t appear to be level or aligned with its tracks, one of your springs may have given out.
Is it dangerous to replace garage door springs?
Yes, it is very dangerous to replace garage door springs. For your own safety and the safety of everyone in your household, we DO NOT recommend attempting to repair, replace, or install garage door springs yourself.
Garage doors often weigh hundreds of pounds, which puts the springs under massive constant tension. Mishandling springs makes them more likely to fail and/or snap.
If a spring snaps, it can fly unpredictably and impact nearby people and objects. The massive amount of tension means it can hit with enough force to break bones. Getting hit with a spring could be life-threatening.
Spring failure can also cause your garage door to suddenly fall and damage anything underneath it.
Dangers of DIY Spring Replacement
Homeowners do get injured trying to replace their own garage door springs.
- Spring replacement requires specialized tools, and DIY tools may not do the job safely or correctly. The wrong tools can cause injury to yourself and your door.
- Installing the wrong type of spring or installing the spring incorrectly can lead to snapping or failure.
- Mishandling springs during replacement can decrease their lifespan or even cause immediate failure.
- You may have other problems with your garage door. Misdiagnosing them as a spring issue means you may not be correcting the root problem AND you’re taking on all the risks of DIY spring replacement.
These missteps can do costly damage to your garage door system, your property, and your household. To minimize the risks, it’s important to have an expert inspect and replace your springs as needed.
Garage door spring broken?
ALWAYS call a trained professional to inspect and replace your garage door springs if they’re broken or in danger of breaking. The risks of replacing springs are too high for yourself, your home’s occupants, and your personal property.
Need help with your garage door springs? Our professionally trained technicians arrive in fully stocked trucks to solve your problem in one visit. If your springs need to be replaced, we install higher grade springs that have a longer lifespan and are covered by our warranty. Your tech will also perform a 21-point safety inspection to ensure there are no other issues with your door. Call Precision 24/7 to schedule service!
