Why is garage door spring replacement important?
Torsion springs and extension springs both provide a counter-force to the weight of the garage door. This reduces the load that the garage door motor has to bear, allowing for smooth operation. A broken or damaged garage door spring can lead to other parts sustaining damage from the increased stress. Additionally, torsion springs, in particular, can be dangerous when damaged, releasing a large amount of energy in a short amount of time when they break. For these reasons, it's important to replace your garage door springs before they are worn down.
How long should a garage door spring last?
How long the spring lasts will depend on the type of spring and how often you use your garage door. Generally, a garage door spring will last for around 10,000 cycles, but this will vary based on the quality of the spring. If you're opening the garage door an average of 4 times a day, this would mean that the average spring would last for a little under 7 years. That's not to say, however, that you should wait 7 years to replace the spring; you need to replace it before that.
Signs that you need garage door spring replacement
As said above, 10,000 cycles is just a rule of thumb. To ensure that you don't end up with a broken garage door spring, it's important to know how to identify signs of damage. The easiest way to check for damage is to observe your garage door in operation. Common signs that there is a problem with your garage door springs include the door opening slowly, slamming closed or making a lot of noise during operation. You can also look at the spring itself to see if there are any obvious signs of damage, such as a gap in the spring.
One other way to check if your garage door spring is working properly is to check the weight of the door. To do this, first, make sure that the door is closed. Once you've confirmed this, use the safety release cord on your garage door opener to disengage the door. You can then attempt to lift the door open manually. The weight of the door will vary depending on the style of door and the materials used, however, the garage door springs should be bearing around 80 percent of the weight of the garage door. If the door feels significantly heavier than it should, this is a sign that you need garage door spring replacement.
Choose Homeline for cheap garage spring replacement.