Leading Causes and Solutions for Broken Garage Door Springs

 

Garage door springs, or torsion springs, are essential to the proper functioning of your garage door. The torsion springs play a role in raising and lowering the door. When the springs malfunction, the door may struggle to open or close, it may become unbalanced, or it may fail to move at all.

 

 

Garage door springs can fail for a number of reasons. It’s important that you know what can cause problems so you can be proactive in preventing issues before any damage is caused. Here’s a look at some of the leading causes of broken garage door springs, as well as some information about solutions to those problems:

 

First, What is the Purpose of a Garage Door Spring?

 

A garage door is big, it’s heavy. In most cases, it is the largest moving object on a house.

It is most commonly believed that the garage door opener does all the heavy lifting.­­­ However, the garage door needs something extra to take the weight off the garage door opener.

That’s where the garage door torsion spring system comes into play.

The torsion spring system is a counterbalance system; like that of an elevator or a castle’s drawbridge.

When the springs are turned, they create a twisting strength called torque. Springs are made with certain amounts of torque depending on their length, wire size, and diameter.

If a garage door is paired with the correct garage door springs, the garage door should feel virtually weightless as it is being moved up and down.

 

So What Causes Broken Garage Door Springs?

 

Wear and Tear

 

The most common factor to broken garage door springs is use.

Each spring has an expected “life cycle”, just like vehicle tires have an expected mileage for their lifetime. A “cycle” for a garage door is when it opens and closes one time.

Most standard garage door springs have an expected life cycle of 10,000 cycles. While that may seem like a lot of cycles, with standard use, those springs may only last a few years!

At the end of their life cycle garage door springs will lose their torque, and then they break, leaving you with a heavy garage door that can’t open!

 

Incorrect Springs

 

Unfortunately, there are times where the incorrect garage door springs are installed on a garage door.

Whether it was done by lack of knowledge or incorrect calculations, this can cause several issues for a garage door system as whole; but one of the reasons could result in broken garage door springs.

If too weak of garage door springs are installed, they are then over-tightened to compensate for the extra weight, causing them to break prematurely.

Make sure that you have a trusted professional to install the correct springs on your door. 

 

Rust and Corrosion

 

Out here in the dry desert of Arizona, we usually do not have to deal with humidity. While rust is more of an issue for coastal areas, we are not exempt.

With the occasional rains that come, if the garage door springs come in contact with water, rust may follow.

It is very important to ensure that your garage door springs stay lubricated to prevent the potential of rust buildup and begin to corrode.

 

 

Here’s What You Can Do

 

If you have a garage door, dealing with a broken spring will be inevitable. While it may be a stressful situation, knowing what to look for and what to expect will help prepare you when the time comes.

 

Balance Test

 

With your garage door closed, you can disconnect your motor from the door using the red emergency pull cord.

You should be able to easily lift the garage door. If it feels heavy, do not continue to lift to prevent further damage to the garage door or injury to yourself. If the door is easy to lift, open it by hand to the height of your knees, waist, and shoulders and it should stay in those positions if you let go of the door.

When you open it all the way, it should stay open by itself. If it falls at any of those positions then you have what we call an “unbalanced door”. To correct this, the springs will require either an adjustment, or replacement.

Both of these solutions required a trained professional garage door technician. Improper knowledge and technique can result in either serious injury or death!

 

Keep Your Garage Door System Lubricated

 

Make sure to use proper garage door lubricant to make sure that your garage door springs and system are moving properly.

Keeping your garage door system lubricated can result in your garage door springs lasting longer!

We do not recommend using WD-40 or other oil-based products. These products will clean the metal, but will not lubricate and will attract dirt and dust right back to what you sprayed.

We recommend using a silicone-based lubricant that will stay on the parts sprayed and keep everything running smoothly.

 

 

We Are Your Garage Door Spring Experts!

Same Day Garage Door Services offers Phoenix valley wide garage door repair, replacement, and installation. We service all types of garage doors in the Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, and Phoenix. Our contractors are licensed, bonded, and insured, and they are committed to providing the best service.

Our dedication shows in our many five-star reviews on Google and Yelp. Call us today to discuss your garage door needs.

 

Same Day Garage Door Services, LLC
Email: samedaygaragedoorservices@gmail.com
ROC #308754

 

Gilbert Location
1176 East Warner Road #117
Gilbert, AZ 85296
Phone: 480-573-2359

 

Tempe Location
5861 S Kyrene Rd Suite 1
Tempe, AZ 85283
Phone: 480-750-7975

 

 

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