Your garage door springs are one of the most important parts of your garage door. When they break, it is frustrating and inconvenient. Springs offset the door’s weight and balance it, allowing it to easily open and close, either manually or with an opener. Garage door springs can break due to wear and tear, lack of maintenance, improper adjustment, or temperature fluctuations. When the door opens, it twists the spring. Twist it enough times, and the spring will snap. If your car is in the garage, you won’t be able to get out because the door will be too heavy to lift, and you could hurt yourself if you attempt to open it. Garage doors weigh several hundred pounds, enough to crush a human being. That’s why it’s important to call a professional to schedule garage door spring repair service: Aladdin Doors.
Signs You Need a Garage Door Spring Repair:
Signs that your garage door spring may break soon include:
- You hear a loud snapping sound
- The cables have snapped
- The operation is ‘jerky’
- The door opens and closes slowly
- The door is unbalanced
You’ll know your garage door spring is broken when:
- You see a visible gap in the spring
- You hear a loud ‘bang’ in the garage
- The door only opens about six” and stops
- You can’t open your door because it’s too heavy
Torsion springs vs. Extension springs
There are two types of garage door springs: torsion springs and extension springs. Torsion springs are directly above your garage door. Depending on the weight of the door and its width, you may have more than one torsion spring. Extension springs are located on each side of your garage door. Springs come in different shapes and sizes based on the weight of your door and spring length so it’s important to select the correct ones. We carry a full line of replacement springs so the job can be done on the spot.
Springs are good for a minimum of 10,000 cycles which can last up to 7 years depending on usage. A cycle is counted as the number of times you open and close your garage door. If you don’t use your garage door that often or plan to move soon, standard springs would be a good choice. For homes with big families, multiple vehicles, and heavy usage, 100,000 high cycle springs are recommended because of their lifetime guarantee. Great if you plan to stay in your home a long time.
If you have a two-car door, typically 16’ x 7’, you will have two springs. Is only one spring broken? When one spring breaks, the second one will follow shortly thereafter. Replacing only one broken spring throws your door off balance. Besides, all springs should be changed since they both went the same number of cycles.
Maintain your garage door springs by lubricating them 1-2 times annually with either a white lithium or silicone-based spray. Extending the life of your springs depends on maintaining all your garage door parts as well, i.e., rollers, hinges, and other moving components.
Springs are under high tension and the National Safety Council warns consumers that only professionals should replace them. Springs are calibrated for the weight of your door. If you use the wrong ones, your opener may break sooner, and your door is more likely to come off track. Instead, let the experts at Aladdin Doors® get the job done so you don’t have to.
Schedule Your Garage Door Spring Repair with Aladdin® Doors
A broken garage door spring isn’t something you can’t afford to ignore. It’s something you need fixed now and fixed right. Let Aladdin® Doors help. Call us today and ask about same day service. We look forward to working with you soon.