There are several types of garage doors, including residential garage doors and commercial garage doors. There are also a number of garage door designs, including glass garage doors. Although garage doors are very reliable, they sometimes require maintenance. For example, a garage door spring may become squeaky and start to make grinding noises. When that happens, the springs need to be lubricated and balanced. Otherwise, the door will become difficult to open. But what should you do if you have a broken garage door spring?
Types of Garage Door Springs
There are two basic types of garage door springs: extension springs and torsion springs. The purpose of each type of spring is to help lift the door. Without springs doing the heavy lifting, it would be difficult to open a garage door because of the door’s weight. Extension springs can be subdivided into open looped, double looped and clipped ends. Torsion springs can be subdivided into standard, early set, steel rolling door and torque master. Some of these are more difficult to repair than others and may require professional garage door repair.
Why Do Garage Door Springs Break?
Although a spring could have been defective when installed, the primary reason that springs break is simply because they wear out. Most springs are rated to last for about 10,000 operations. That means that if you operate your garage door four times per day, the springs will last an average of about seven years. Another reason that springs break is because of rust. Rust increases the amount of friction on the springs, which causes them to break prematurely. A third reason that springs break is improper maintenance or the lack of maintenance altogether.
What Are the Symptoms of a Broken Spring?
Garage doors with a broken spring will not operate properly. The door will become difficult to open or close. You may begin to hear strange sounds coming from your garage door as you operate it, such as squealing or grinding noises. If you look at the springs, you may notice that one of them is broken or swaying. Your garage door may come off its track or become bent when forced to open or close. In some cases, you may not even be able to open or close the door with either the opener or the manual release cord.
What Should You Do about Your Broken Garage Door Spring?
If you have a broken garage door spring, it will have to be replaced. If you are good at DIY projects, you may be able to replace it yourself. However, you should know that replacing a spring can be dangerous if you do not follow the proper procedure and use the right tools. You will also need to order all the replacement parts that you need because most home centers do not carry them. If you have any doubts, though, about whether you can handle such a job safely, you should hire a professional to perform the garage door repair for you.
