The New Yorker says garages aren’t primarily about a place to park your car. For American’s, their garage is their favorite room. A garage can be a man cave, a storage space or even a place where corporations are founded.
Wondering whether or not it’s time to replace your garage door springs? Read on to find out more about spring replacement.
Garage Door Spring Replacement
A well-maintained garage door should give you many years of good service. There are times when things go wrong. Taking prompt action to replace springs can extend the life of your garage door.
1. Can’t Raise the Door
A well-fitted garage door with working springs should open easily. If a spring is broken the door will not open easily.
You may find that an automatic opener will open the garage door a small way and then stop. This is because a safety feature stops the door from opening when it is damaged. This stops the system from burning out.
The problem is that the force needed to open the door is much greater if a spring is broken. A manually operated door becomes very heavy to open if a spring is broken. Rather than struggle with it, have the broken spring replaced.
2. Loud Noise in the Garage
You don’t have to be operating the garage for the springs to break. The first you know about it maybe when you hear a loud noise from your garage. This could happen at any time during the night or day.
A spring stores energy within its coils. If the spring breaks that energy can be released emitting a loud noise.
At first, you may think such a loud noise comes from another source. You might suspect that you have an intruder, a fallen storage box or even an electrical fault.
Closer examination will reveal that the garage door spring has broken. It’s time for a replacement spring.
3. Noisy Operation
If you hear lots of noise or juddering when trying to open the garage door the springs may be wearing out or broken. Noises that sound like groans or screeches tell you that something is wrong.
The normal operation of the door should be smooth. If there are any jerking movements when opening the door check the springs.
4. Stretched Springs
Signs of worn or broken springs include gaps in the springs. A gap occurs when the spring unwinds.
The gap can be over one inch wide. it can be on the ends or even in the middle of the spring.
5. Crooked Door
On either side of your garage door are extension springs. These springs straighten the garage door. If one of the springs breaks than it fails to do its job.
One side of the garage door will be being pulled by the working spring but the other side will not. This uneven tension twists the door so that it looks crooked. A closer inspection of the extension springs will reveal which one is torn or broken.
Spring Into Action
Any sign of damage to the springs of your garage door should be addressed immediately. Not doing so can cause more expensive damage. After spring replacement your garage can have many more years of working life.
For more advice on garage door repairs, contact us here.