Everything you Need to Know about Garage Door Springs

Garage door springs are essential to the smooth operation of your garage door. If they break or are damaged in any way, you will know about it! A spring snapping is a very loud and unmistakable thing to hear, and if you don’t hear it, you will notice it as soon as you try to lift (or get your opener system) to open the garage door. 

Over the years we have seen everything and anything when it comes to garage door springs and so thought we would share some of our knowledge by compiling 5 tips we professionals feel you should be aware of when it comes to garage door springs.

Pro Tip #1 - Know What Type of Garage Door Spring you are Dealing with

To properly identify a garage door spring problem, you firstly have to understand that there are two potential springs you could be dealing with. A garage door uses both torsion and extension springs, and it is extremely important to know where they are located and what they do.

The first set of springs are the Torsion springs and these are centrally attached just above the garage door. At one end of the torsion spring is a winding cone and at the other end a stationary cone. The second set of springs are the Extension springs, which are located above the upper tracks of your garage door and usually connected to a pulley and I-bolt.

Attention! Replacing either of these springs, but especially the extension springs, can be very dangerous and it is always recommended to call in a professional garage door technician (see pro tip #5 below!)

Pro Tip #2 Squeaking Springs Don’t Always Mean Trouble

When operating at optimal levels Garage doors are pretty quiet considering their size, and so should there ever be strange noises emanating from your door, that could very well spell big trouble - But hold on a minute, maybe it doesn’t! Should you notice a change in the volume levels or just new squeaks and strains you may just want to do some simple maintenance procedures first, before you call in the professionals. 

Get yourself some garage door lubricant (see here for our suggestions) and apply as directed to the garage door springs. Let the lubricant work it’s way in and around the springs by operating the door normally and see if this alleviates the noise. Should there be no change to the noises then it is recommended you call in a professional technician as soon as you can.

Pro Tip #3 Out of Balance Garage Door Springs Can Cause Big Problems

Every garage door technician will tell you stories about out of balance garage doors. It all comes down to the weight of the door and the springs that are being used to counter that weight. In line with the laws of physics if you have an out of balance door there will be extra weight unfairly distributed amongst the springs, which when left uncorrected can cause damage and even permanent failure of your entire garage door opening system.

How can you find out if you have an out of balance garage door and spring situation? That would be where the balance test comes in to play. One of the simplest tests to do is close the garage door completely and then detach the automatic garage door opening system (if you have one). Carefully lift the door to the halfway mark and then let go, but be ready to get a hold of the door should anything unexpected happen.

Of course the other way to get a foolproof test is to call in your trusted garage door service company to run a multitude of balancing tests during a general servicing visit.

Pro Tip #4 If You Have Springs You Better Have Garage Door Safety Cables 

Repairing auto damage is a costly business, but not as bad as repairing physical damage to a body! Both of these serious situations can happen if your garage door spring breaks with you or your car in the vicinity. In fact garage door springs that break have been known to snap back and put holes in walls as well.

This is why every professional garage door technician will recommend you install and/or keep the garage door safety cables well maintained. These safety cables are attached to the garage door tract, lace through the springs and connect to the same strong support that the springs do. Once properly installed these cables will keep a broken garage door spring from snapping around and causing allsorts of damage.

Pro Tip #5 Get a Professional Garage Door Technician to Replace Your Springs

Our last pro tip on garage door springs is probably the most important one we can recommend to any DIY’er. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, garage door springs can be extremely dangerous and if already even slightly damaged totally unpredictable! Unless you know exactly what you are doing (and even if you do) we cannot stress enough how it would be much safer and easier to call out a professional garage door technician to carry out all maintenance, repairs and especially new installation of all garage door springs.

Never Take Your Garage Door Springs For Granted

As you will have gathered by now, garage door springs are a vital piece of you garage door setup and can be, potentially, the most dangerous to you and your belongings. Here at the Pena Garage Door Company we have seen the damage that broken garage door springs can do (and in rare cases the harm they can cause).

Your garage should not be a cause for concern, it is an integral part of your residence and when maintained properly should just blend into the background of your day to day life. So if you recognize any of the issues we have mentioned above or you just feel like it may be time to get your springs looked at by an expert - Contact one of our friendly team members today and schedule a visit at a time that suits you. We are always ready to take your call on (800) 960-7362.