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Garage Door Spring Repair
Garage doors are complicated. There are many mechanisms that allow a garage door to work. It is one of the largest features of your house.
Consider how often you look at your garage door. It is a big part of your day-to-day life and as such, it is important to maintain it. Homeowners should familiarize themselves with their garage doors and take care of any repairs. If you find any problems with your door, the garage door spring could be the reason. Consider Muskego Garage Door Repair Experts for all of your garage repair needs.
What is a garage door spring?
You may be wondering what a garage spring is. A garage door is a little more complex that they appear. They are able to work because of the multiple parts working together. The springs are essential to the function of the door. The springs are one of the mechanisms that help you open the door with little or no effort. They work against the force of gravity to allow anyone to lift a 150-pound door over their head with minimal effort.
Residential garage doors have either tension springs or extension springs.
Consider how often you look at your garage door. It is a big part of your day-to-day life and as such, it is important to maintain it. Homeowners should familiarize themselves with their garage doors and take care of any repairs. If you find any problems with your door, the garage door spring could be the reason. Consider Muskego Garage Door Repair Experts for all of your garage repair needs.
What is a garage door spring?
You may be wondering what a garage spring is. A garage door is a little more complex that they appear. They are able to work because of the multiple parts working together. The springs are essential to the function of the door. The springs are one of the mechanisms that help you open the door with little or no effort. They work against the force of gravity to allow anyone to lift a 150-pound door over their head with minimal effort.
Residential garage doors have either tension springs or extension springs.
Torsion And Extension Springs
Torsion Spring
The torsion spring is attached above the garage door. Older homes may even have them in the back of the garage. They are coiled so that they can produce torque to lift the door. The torsion spring turns and the torque created from them transmits to the cable drums. These drums are located on either side of the door. The torque is then converted to a linear force on the cables connected to the drums. The tension that is now in the cables takes away some of the weight of the door, making it easier to lift.
These kinds of garage door springs tend to be sturdier and longer lasting. Because they are “balanced” it does not take as much pressure to open and close the door. This makes the tension springs able to last longer.
Extension Spring
You will find the extension spring right above the garage door track. They can be horizontal or mounted vertically. These kinds of garage springs expand fully and then contract when the garage door is operated. Rather than torque, extension spring use pulling forces to work against gravity. This lifts the door.
This can result makes the door open in a jerking way. Extension springs are less controlled than torsion springs which make them less durable. Although they are cheaper than torsion springs, they last half as long.
The torsion spring is attached above the garage door. Older homes may even have them in the back of the garage. They are coiled so that they can produce torque to lift the door. The torsion spring turns and the torque created from them transmits to the cable drums. These drums are located on either side of the door. The torque is then converted to a linear force on the cables connected to the drums. The tension that is now in the cables takes away some of the weight of the door, making it easier to lift.
These kinds of garage door springs tend to be sturdier and longer lasting. Because they are “balanced” it does not take as much pressure to open and close the door. This makes the tension springs able to last longer.
Extension Spring
You will find the extension spring right above the garage door track. They can be horizontal or mounted vertically. These kinds of garage springs expand fully and then contract when the garage door is operated. Rather than torque, extension spring use pulling forces to work against gravity. This lifts the door.
This can result makes the door open in a jerking way. Extension springs are less controlled than torsion springs which make them less durable. Although they are cheaper than torsion springs, they last half as long.
How Do I know If My Springs Are Bad?
How do you know when your springs go bad?
Torsion Springs
Garage doors that feature these types of springs should be balanced. It should not be hard to lift. Also, as the door is rolled up, it should stop on each section. If you find your door is getting harder to lift or doesn’t lift correctly, the spring may be the cause.
Consider the age of your garage door springs. Have they been there since you’ve moved it? Do you have a “special trick” to getting the garage to open? If so, maybe it’s time the springs were replaced.
Torsion springs can normally last between 7-14 years depending on how often they are used. The springs take a small hit every time you open the garage door and as such, have a defined life span.
If your springs are new, make sure to have them rebalanced within the first year if they were installed during colder weather. Rebalance them within two years if they were installed in warmer weather.
A torsion spring is considered “failing” if it needs to be rebalanced. If your spring doesn't have as much tension as when you first got them, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are failing. There are two ways to tell if your door is balanced.
1. The garage door should not move much, if at all when it is in the up position. If it starts to roll, the garage springs are “failing”. They have to be re-tensioned at this point.
2. If you pull the door to mid-level it should stay there. It should neither move up nor down. The springs should support the door. If you find the door is moving, the springs need to be re-tensioned.
It’s important that an expert tests your garage doors because it is possible the loose cables will cause the door to fall off of its track. Muskego Garage Door Repair Experts will test and perform garage door repairs.
If your garage door is over four years old and you find that your door is too heavy, consider calling one of our experts to help replace it. If you find that your door is too light, your door might have the wrong sized tension springs. We can also check it out for you.
Extension Springs
Extension springs can last between 7-9 years depending on how much they are used. Extension springs are only failing if there are gaps between the coils. This kind of garage spring may lose tension but they might not break. If you do see gaps, they need to be fixed.
Torsion Springs
Garage doors that feature these types of springs should be balanced. It should not be hard to lift. Also, as the door is rolled up, it should stop on each section. If you find your door is getting harder to lift or doesn’t lift correctly, the spring may be the cause.
Consider the age of your garage door springs. Have they been there since you’ve moved it? Do you have a “special trick” to getting the garage to open? If so, maybe it’s time the springs were replaced.
Torsion springs can normally last between 7-14 years depending on how often they are used. The springs take a small hit every time you open the garage door and as such, have a defined life span.
If your springs are new, make sure to have them rebalanced within the first year if they were installed during colder weather. Rebalance them within two years if they were installed in warmer weather.
A torsion spring is considered “failing” if it needs to be rebalanced. If your spring doesn't have as much tension as when you first got them, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are failing. There are two ways to tell if your door is balanced.
1. The garage door should not move much, if at all when it is in the up position. If it starts to roll, the garage springs are “failing”. They have to be re-tensioned at this point.
2. If you pull the door to mid-level it should stay there. It should neither move up nor down. The springs should support the door. If you find the door is moving, the springs need to be re-tensioned.
It’s important that an expert tests your garage doors because it is possible the loose cables will cause the door to fall off of its track. Muskego Garage Door Repair Experts will test and perform garage door repairs.
If your garage door is over four years old and you find that your door is too heavy, consider calling one of our experts to help replace it. If you find that your door is too light, your door might have the wrong sized tension springs. We can also check it out for you.
Extension Springs
Extension springs can last between 7-9 years depending on how much they are used. Extension springs are only failing if there are gaps between the coils. This kind of garage spring may lose tension but they might not break. If you do see gaps, they need to be fixed.
My Springs Are Bad, What Should I Do?
My springs are bad, what do I do?
There are many complicated pieces in motion when opening and closing a garage door. If you find any problems with your door call an expert.
It is important NOT to try to fix it yourself. There are a number of safety issues that can result from trying to fix it yourself. An extension spring can cause serious damage including broken windshields, injury and in some cases: death.
Extension springs can fly off. Tension springs stay on their shaft when they break but can still be dangerous. These springs are lifting heavy doors and as such have a lot of force behind them.
Again, do NOT try to fix your garage door spring yourself. Call one of our professionals and we will assist you.
If you forego garage spring replacements, other parts of your garage door may be affected.
If you have any questions or want to know more, don’t hesitate to call us. We here at Muskego Garage Door Repair Experts make garage door repair hassle-free for our customers. We offer a variety of working hours and we are even open on the weekends. We want to ensure our client’s satisfaction.
There are many complicated pieces in motion when opening and closing a garage door. If you find any problems with your door call an expert.
It is important NOT to try to fix it yourself. There are a number of safety issues that can result from trying to fix it yourself. An extension spring can cause serious damage including broken windshields, injury and in some cases: death.
Extension springs can fly off. Tension springs stay on their shaft when they break but can still be dangerous. These springs are lifting heavy doors and as such have a lot of force behind them.
Again, do NOT try to fix your garage door spring yourself. Call one of our professionals and we will assist you.
If you forego garage spring replacements, other parts of your garage door may be affected.
If you have any questions or want to know more, don’t hesitate to call us. We here at Muskego Garage Door Repair Experts make garage door repair hassle-free for our customers. We offer a variety of working hours and we are even open on the weekends. We want to ensure our client’s satisfaction.
