Garage door springs do all the hard work when opening and closing doors. Broken garage door springs are a perplexing problem for businesses and homeowners who do not know precisely when this will happen. Here are the top reasons garage door springs break. Once you identify them, it is time to consider either garage door spring repair or garage spring replacement.
Top Reasons Garage Door Springs Break
Wear and Tear
The biggest reason for garage door spring failure is simple wear and tear. Most springs are engineered and rated for about 10,000 cycles – one cycle being the garage door going up and coming back down to close.
That may seem like a lot, but consider that you go through at least two cycles a day just getting the car out of and back into the garage. If you go on any errands, a spouse goes to work through the same garage, or kids open and close the door for any reason; those daily cycles can add up.
Like most homeowners, your garage door has become your front door and receives excessive use. You might want to consider getting extended-life torsion springs, which are rated for 20,000 or more cycles.
Rust
If the spring develops rust for any reason, its lifespan will be dramatically shortened. Rust increases the friction between the coils while they move back and forth. In addition, the corrosion on the spring itself will weaken the coils and lead to failure more quickly.
Spraying down the spring with a silicone-based lubricant three or four times a year can greatly assist in keeping it well-lubricated and extending its life expectancy.
Improper Maintenance
All garage door springs will eventually fail, but professional maintenance service can prolong their lifespan and alert you when they get close to failure. This can help prevent potentially destructive explosive breaking of the spring and the headache involved in fixing it as quickly as possible.
In addition to maintenance service, you can lubricate the spring with white lithium grease a few times a year and check the garage door balance at least once a season, especially in the winter when most springs fail.
To check balance:
Pull the emergency release cord to place the door in manual mode.
Lift the door halfway and let go of it. The springs should be in good working order and keep it balanced and still. If not, the door will sag and fall, and the springs are starting to show signs of wear and may need adjustment or replacement.
Garage door springs are essential for opening and closing your garage door — if they break, you’ll know it.
Signs of broken springs
Loud noise: When a spring breaks, the sudden release of energy can cause it to make a loud crashing sound.
The door falls quickly: A broken spring can cause an unbalanced door that falls faster than usual when closing.
Opens slowly: Broken spring can make it harder for the opener to pull the door’s total weight so that it may open more slowly than usual.
Crooked: A broken extension spring can cause one side of the door to pull up faster than the other, making the door appear crooked.
Door jerks: It may jerk as it moves up and down.
The door gets stuck: Garage door may get stuck while moving along the track.
Won’t open: Your door may not open, even when you use the emergency release.
Gaps: You may notice a gap between the rings in the torsion spring.
Loose cables: The spring may have trouble functioning correctly if the cables are loose or slack.
Related Articles
Garage Doors Play Vital Role in Curb Appeal
Garage Doors Play a Vital Role in Curb Appeal for homes and businesses. For homes, they are often located on the front of the house and can cover up to 40% of the front [...]
Garage Door Security Tips To Prevent Home Invasions
You can use different garage door security devices outside your garage door: openers, lights, cameras, and home alarms. You’ve invested significantly in your home, family, and belongings, so keeping your home and garage space [...]
2 Devices You Need in Your Garage
When it comes to home safety, homeowners think about safety for their homes, not necessarily for their garages. They install alarm systems and incorporate deadbolts and security cameras within and around their homes. Yet [...]
Key Garage Door Accessories
To ensure the durability of your garage door, you need to understand key garage door accessories. A garage door comprises many parts that work in harmony to enable it to open and close safely. [...]
Top Reasons Garage Door Springs Break
Garage door springs do all the hard work when opening and closing doors. Broken garage door springs are a perplexing problem for businesses and homeowners who do not know precisely when this will happen. [...]
Garage Door Transformations
Most people probably don't think about replacing their garage door until it's necessary, putting it off until it's dingy, or the door stops working. However, curb appeal-conscious homeowners know the value a statement garage [...]
How to Lubricate Your Garage Door
Modern garage doors simplify our lives. Yet, without regular maintenance, these conveniences might begin to make too much noise, malfunction, or break. Learn how to lubricate your garage door parts for proper operation and [...]
How to Open a Garage Door Manually
Almost all garage doors feature a manual release function that bypasses the opening mechanism during power outages, malfunctions, or emergencies. Locate the short rope from the garage door track to trigger the manual release. [...]
Best Ways to Keep Your Garage Cool This Summer
Garages make an excellent workspace, but not when they’re uncomfortably hot – especially if you live in a climate prone to extreme heat. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep your [...]
Garage Door Maintenance Tips
Here are Garage Door maintenance tips to keep your garage door in working order and spare you from costly, time-consuming repairs. Each tip helps homeowners identify issues sooner, extend the life of their garage [...]
Call a Professional to Repair Your Garage Door
Garage doors are the unsung heroes of our homes, standing guard and ensuring their security and accessibility. However, like all appliances, they are susceptible to wear and tear. While DIY can be satisfying and [...]
DIY Garage Door Repairs
The desire to save money and be self-sufficient is ever-increasing in today's world. It’s no wonder many homeowners take the DIY Garage Door Repairs approach to various tasks around the house. Working through a maintenance [...]
Call us Today at (858) 264-3650
Overhead Door Company of Southern California™ – 12215 Kirkham Road Suite 200, Poway, CA 92064
Call Us Today at (858) 264-3650
Or Email us on the Form Below.
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 7 AM–4 PM
Call us Today at
(858) 264-3650
Or Send us an Email.