Garage door springs play a key role in the functionality of a garage door—they are used in opening and closing your garage door. When they are damaged, your garage door may also break. A garage door spring is a component that allows us to open and close a garage door easily. It is connected to cables that pull up when the garage door opener is activated. When the cables turn, the door is pulled up as the tension on the spring increases.
Why are Garage Door Springs Important?
Garage door springs are important parts of garage doors due to the following reasons:
- They help in the proper functioning of a garage door and opener.
- They allow the door to open even when the garage door opener fails to work.
- In an automatic garage door opener, they are the ones that lift or lower the door, thus providing comfort.
What are the Types of Garage Door Springs?
- Torsion Springs: Torsion springs are the most common type. They use torque, which is the force that causes rotation, to achieve proper functioning. They have different lengths and sizes. They are sturdy, so they last longer than other kinds.
- Extension Springs: Extension springs are the commonly used type when your garage has low headroom. They are placed in the upper horizontal tracks on each side of the garage door. When opening a garage door, springs become extended to create a counterbalance. This, in turn, serves as support to the garage door.
Which of These Types is Better?
Torsion springs are better than extension springs because of several aspects. For example, torsion springs are more efficient because the pressure applied to both sides of the door is equal. They last within 5,000 to 500,000 cycles.
On the other hand, extension springs on both sides of the door do not work together. As a result, one side of the door can be lifted at a higher rate than the other. This even causes the entire system to malfunction. They are also risky and outdated. Therefore, torsion springs are safer and more efficient. They last longer, too.
How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last?
The cycle life of torsion springs and extension springs varies in terms of wire size, length and frequency of use. The average cycle life of springs is about 10,000 cycles, or equivalent to a range of 7 to 12 years. Conversely, high-cycle springs can have a lifespan of 14 to 20 years.
Why Do Garage Door Springs Break?
Garage door springs are parts that help operate the opening and closing of a garage door. However, they can break. New springs seldom break within a year, but springs tend to break, especially if they are old, defective or installed improperly. Here are the main reasons they break:
Wear and Tear
Garage door springs fail mainly because of wear and tear. As mentioned earlier, most springs have a lifespan of about 10,000 cycles—that is, one cycle includes the opening and closing of a garage door. Under general circumstances, garage door springs have two cycles a day: one when you go out of the house and the other when you come back home.
However, the number of cycles may increase if other family members run errands; such as when your spouse leaves the house through the same garage, or your children open and close the garage door during playtime. So, the daily cycles can add up faster than expected. This even occurs more rapidly if your garage door is used as your front door. In this case, you should use torsion springs with an extended lifespan, which is about 20,000 or more cycles.
Rust
If garage door springs become rusty, their lifespan may be shortened. Because of rust, the amount of friction on coils increases as they move back and forth. Corrosion on garage door springs weakens the coils and causes failure more quickly. To avoid rusting, you should apply a silicone-based lubricant three or four times yearly to keep it lubricated. Thus, the life expectancy of springs can be extended.
Improper Maintenance
Garage door springs have a certain lifespan. So, they will eventually fail. Their lifespan can be shortened if they are not maintained properly. As such, proper maintenance is important to prolong the lifespan of springs. Doing so can help prevent the spring from breaking.
What are the Signs That Say You Need to Replace Your Garage Door Springs?
Let’s say that you have been taking good care of your garage door. How would you know when to replace your garage door springs? Here are four major signs of malfunctioning garage door springs:
- Your garage door feels heavier. If you feel like your garage door seems heavier and goes down more rapidly as it closes, then you probably need to replace your garage door springs.
- Your garage door moves erratically. When garage doors have erratic or jerky movements, the side spring is probably damaged.
- Your garage door looks uneven. Under normal circumstances, the bottom of a garage door should be parallel to the floor. If it looks crooked, then the spring on one of the sides of the door is not functioning properly.
- Your garage door has loose or broken cables. Garage door cables should be tight. If they slip out of place, then your spring is likely uncoiling and breaking.
- Your garage door makes a loud banging noise. When a torsion spring breaks, your garage door can make a loud noise. In this case, you should contact a technician right away to repair your garage door spring.
- Your garage door cannot be pulled up even after using the emergency release rope. If you use the emergency release rope and the garage door is still not opening, then your spring is definitely broken.
Who Should You Call When Your Garage Door Spring Finally Breaks?
As an important part of a garage door, garage door springs play a key role in maintaining the balance of your garage door and ensuring that both sides of the door move up and down simultaneously. Without them, you experience difficulty lifting the door. If you see any of the signs mentioned above, garage door springs may be the problem. So, you should replace them right away.
If this is the case, then experts must be the one to replace your garage door springs. Our team of specialists at SOS Garage Door Repairs has a wide range of experience, training and the right tools needed to repair your garage door spring. We also offer competitive pricing and high-quality garage door services to help improve the security of your homes and match their architectural design. Contact us today!
