Identifying Garage Door Spring Issues

If you aren’t a specialist, you might not realize how to identify issues with your garage door springs. This is expected. But there are actually quite a few methods to decide whether or not your garage door spring is functioning appropriately. You are going to want to take a few moments of your time to check and inspect the springs sporadically to make sure that if they are not in good shape, they are replaced, so you aren’t left with a garage door that causes damage or doesn’t work. Learn how to identify garage door spring issues by reading this article. We are confident you just might learn something new. 

Professionals providing garage door repairs can be accessed via phone or sometimes through a website, and they are able to come out and inspect the springs for you. They can tell you right away during their inspection if something is wrong. While we don’t encourage DIY work with regard to working on springs, there are things you can do with relative ease, for instance, if you have a spring needing lubrication. Anyway, we will start with the basics. Let’s go over torsion and extension springs so you can at least know the difference and know what you are dealing with!  

Extension Springs and Torsion Springs

You have torsion and extension springs. Springs enable a garage door to be lifted smoothly and with ease as long as they are functional, regardless of how much your garage door might weigh. Yes, the springs are small but they are able to support a lot of weight. They offer assistance with torsion.

Torsion springs are the springs you might see on the wall over a garage door and they are used for big, heavy doors because these springs typically do have a longer lifespan and they are known for how resilient and sturdy they happen to be. On the other hand, extension springs are commonly seen with one-piece garage doors, usually overhead, and they are very useful as it relates to contraction and expansion. Torsion springs, if taken care of properly, are going to last longer than extension springs do, generally speaking.  

So how are you supposed to recognize if the springs are problematical? How can you tell it’s time to hire an expert to replace them? Let’s assume your garage door refuses to budge. It won’t open. While you might assume the opener is the culprit causing the problem, it could be something else – the springs. Does your garage door open at an angle? Check for issues like cables that are dangling down. These are connected to springs, which might indicate a damaged torsion spring. If this is what you have found, call a professional. 

Now let’s say it’s not the entire door system, but just part of the door that is not working properly. In this case, you still are going to want to take a look at the springs because when the garage door doesn’t function the way it is supposed to, other components are strained and damage can occur, especially with the springs. Check for wear and tear. When it comes to springs, check for coil separation and look at the length. If something seems off, there might be an issue. 

Here is another way to determine if the springs are working appropriately – disable the automatic opener. This isn’t as difficult as you might think. Just close the garage door and disable the opener. Them, lift the garage door. Yes, lift it with your hands. Do you notice that it gets stuck? Or does it open just fine? If it opens without any issue, you might not have to worry about the springs. But if you are exerting more force than seems necessary to lift the garage door, the problem could absolutely be the springs.

You can also try a safety test on the garage door. This is easy to do. You just need to open the garage door, then use the button (this might be on the wall or you might need your automatic opener) to close the door. Now it’s time to test the door. You can place an object in its path. Just use something that you don’t mind potentially getting damaged, like a heavy stick or old broom. Does the object force the door to go into reverse? This is what it is supposed to do because it is a security feature. If the door does not immediately stop when it gets close to the object you put in its way, you have a problematic safety mechanism and potentially broken springs. Please be cautious if you do this test.

Damaged Springs Are a Big Problem

If you regularly look at your springs, you might notice problems faster, like a gap in the spring, or you might be more inclined to notice that a noise doesn’t sound right. Just make sure to hire an expert for assistance. 

You want your springs to last as long as possible, of course. Lubricating them can certainly help. If you notice an issue regarding how your garage door is working, and you believe the springs could be at fault, call an expert. Make sure they are insured and licensed, so you are covered.

Now that you realize there are numerous ways to decide if a garage door spring is functioning the way that it should be, make sure YOURS are working how they are supposed to.  Inspect the garage door springs regularly, for your own protection and to ensure your door lasts as long as it can. We hope this information has helped you to identify garage door spring issues. If you detect a problem with the garage door springs, get on the phone with the experts at Quick Garage Door Pros located in Hollywood, FL. 

You can call at any time because we offer 24/7 emergency services so you are covered during an unanticipated or dangerous scenario. Many garage door experts offer this service.