Is something odd happening with your garage door? Did you hear a loud noise coming from the garage recently? Although your opener is responsible for all of the electronics required to run your garage door, it’s the garage door spring that is actually doing most of the work (lifting your garage door up). Garage door springs often hold anywhere from 150 lbs or more of weight on the door system. If the garage door springs start to fail, it can pose a serious safety hazard. Here are ten signs to look out for to determine if you need a professional garage spring repair.
1. A Loud Popping Sound
First, a failing spring often snaps under massive tension. If you hear a loud, sudden bang from your garage, a spring has likely broken.
2. The Door Feels Incredibly Heavy
When springs support the weight of a door, when the spring is broken, the door is left with just the weight of the door. Thus, an attempt to open it manually will make it extremely difficult to lift. Your springs no longer assist you.
3. The Door Opens Only a Few Inches
Modern garage door openers have safety sensors. If a spring breaks, the opener senses the excessive weight. Therefore, if your door moves up just six inches and shuts off, check the springs.
4. There is a Visible Gap in the Spring
Torsion springs sit on a metal bar above your door. When they break, they unravel, leaving a clear two- to three-inch gap. As a result, a quick visual inspection can confirm the problem.
5. The Door is Crooked or Sags
Extension springs run along the upper tracks on both sides. If one side snaps, the door will lift unevenly. Subsequently, you will notice the door looking crooked as it moves.
6. The Door Jerks or Shakes
Do you notice your door jerking or stuttering as it opens? This means the springs are losing their tension unevenly. Consequently, this uneven tension strains the entire system, which highlights your urgent need for professional garage spring repair.
7. Cables Look Loose or Frayed
Garage door cables and springs work as a team. When a spring fails, the cable often loses tension and hangs down like a loose string.
8. The Door Closes Too Fast
If the springs cannot hold the weight, the door may come crashing down much faster than normal. This creates an incredibly dangerous situation for your family and pets.
9. Loud Squeaking or Grinding Noises
While some noise is normal, loud screeching means the springs are worn out. They are experiencing too much friction as they near the end of their lifespan. Consequently, this loud warning sign means you should schedule a garage spring repair before the system fails completely.
10. The Door is Over 7 Years Old
Most standard springs last for about 10,000 cycles. For the average family, this takes around 7 to 9 years. If your springs are old, replace them before they snap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I fix a broken garage door spring by myself?
Absolutely not. Garage door springs hold an immense amount of tension. Consequently, if a spring snaps while you work on it, it can cause severe injury or property damage. For this reason, you should always leave this job to a trained professional who has the proper tools.
Q: How long do garage door springs usually last?
Generally, standard garage door springs last for about 10,000 open-and-close cycles. For the average family, this equals roughly 7 to 9 years of daily use. However, if you use your garage door as the main entrance to your home, the springs may wear out much faster.
Q: Should I replace both springs if only one is broken?
Yes, you should always replace them as a pair. Because both springs experience the same amount of daily wear and tear, the second spring will usually break shortly after the first one. Therefore, replacing both at the same time saves you an extra service fee later on.
Q: Can I still use my garage door opener if a spring breaks?
No, you should avoid using the opener entirely. When a spring breaks, the door becomes heavy, a dead weight. As a result, running the opener under these conditions can burn out the motor or strip the gears, which leads to a much more expensive repair bill.