Most Common Garage Door Spring Problems

Torsion springs are the most common springs found in garage doors today. Not only that, but they also last longer than extension springs and that is due to the fact that the material that garage door torsion springs are made out of is very dense. Let’s take a look at how garage door torsion springs work: torsion springs are found on top of your garage door opening rather than extending on the sides of your tracks like extension springs. They function using torque. Torque is the force that causes rotation.

When you open your garage door, the springs loosen up and transfer their mechanical energy to your garage door, which helps making it light enough for the opener to lift it. On the other side, when you close your garage door, the springs tighten up and store energy from the rotation motion of the cables that are attached to the bottom corner sides of the garage door.

This type of springs run along your garage door wall and is connected to the pulley of your garage door, which is then connected to the cables at the bottom corners of your garage. They are more challenging to install and manufacture than torsion springs. Most professionals recommend that you install torsion springs as they have a lot more benefits and are also safer.

As their name indicates, extension springs fully extend when the garage door closes and fully contracts when the garage door opens. They usually last less than torsion springs. Extension springs would last for about 10,000 cycles while torsion springs would last you anywhere between 15,000 to 20,000.

Regardless of the type of your garage door springs, whether you have extension springs or torsion springs (most garage doors have torsion springs), do not try to open or close your garage door. The main function of Garage door springs is to make your garage door light enough for the garage door opener to lift it. Have your ever wondered why it is so easy to lift your garage door? Well, that’s because the springs are doing the all the work for you! So in other words, if garage door springs are broken, your opener will most likely burn up, and your garage door could fall off.

If you ever experience this, most likely it means that your garage door springs needs to be replaced. While they may be loose and not broken, you must call a professional to handle this as this is the most dangerous and risky part of your garage door to try fixing yourself. We highly recommend that you do not attempt to do it on your own and immediately call a garage door specialists company to handle the job for you.

Imagine you are rushing to work or to an appointment early in the morning, you try to open your garage door and it will not open! This will probably cause you to miss work or be late to your appointment as it means that your garage door springs are broken and need to be replaced with new ones as soon as possible.

Can you imagine how many times your garage door opens and closes a year? Your garage door opens and closes several a day and many times a year, 1200-1500 times on average if not more. Your springs need to be smooth and oiled. You need to apply a lubricant regularly to prolong your garage door springs lifetime and to avoid hearing any annoying noises. Lubricate your springs with a silicon-based lubricant. Also make sure that the bolts are not loosen up and tighten them as needed.