Safety First
The most important thing to consider when checking for signs of damage is your safety. Torsion springs are designed to counter the weight of your garage door using a huge amount of tension. If your torsion spring were to break, all of that tension would be released at once. Unless you have experience servicing torsion springs, do NOT attempt to remove or adjust your torsion spring. Always contact a professional when you need your torsion springs serviced or replaced.
Stress on the opener
The main reason that you need torsion springs for your garage door is to reduce the load that your garage door opener needs to bear. When your torsion spring is damaged, the motor of your garage door needs to bear significantly more weight. This increased stress can result in long-term damage. The upside of this is that it makes it easier for you to identify when there is a problem with your torsion springs. There are a few easy ways to tell if your opener is struggling with an increased load. One clear sign is if your garage door is making more noise during operation. The more weight that your motor has to bear, the more force it needs to output and the louder it will be.
Another sign is the speed that your garage door opens. If you notice that your garage door is opening slower than normal, it may be a sign that your opener is under more stress. There are countless other signs of stress on your garage door opener. If you notice anything abnormal with the operation of your garage door, it is worth checking for damage.
The weight of the door
If you think there may be something wrong with your torsion springs, a good way to check is to check the weight of your garage door. First, ensure that the door is completely closed. Next, disengage the door from the opener by pulling the cord. After you have done this, you can try to lift the garage door by its handle. A single-car garage door should weigh 35-60kg, and a double-car garage door should weigh 70-90kg. If your torsion springs are functioning correctly, the door should feel like it weighs significantly less. If you can feel close to the full weight of the door, it might be time to call Homeline to replace your torsion springs.
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