A residential garage door relies on springs to open and close. Constant use will eventually cause a problem with the springs, which is not at all uncommon. Here’s a deeper look into how springs affect garage doors and what can be done about this issue.
Broken Springs
A broken spring is not difficult to identify. When one spring breaks, it is a good idea to replace the other spring because both are likely to have similar wear and tear. Repairing a broken spring can be very involved and even dangerous, so it is best to contact a professional instead of tinkering with it yourself.
Wrong Size Spring
Springs do not have to be broken to cause problems with your garage door. Like with most mechanisms, wrong sized garage door parts can create issues. A wrong size spring is evidenced by the garage door not lowering all the way to the ground. Another sign of a wrong size spring is a garage door that slams against the ground when it closes. Do-it-yourself installations may experience this problem and some less reputable companies make this mistake as well.
Extension Springs
Many garage doors are equipped with extension springs as these are more popular in homes. They are located just above the upper level horizontal tracks. It is also important to have safety cables with extension springs, which provide protection should a spring break. Extension springs function by actually extending to open and close the garage door.
Torsion Springs
Torsion springs rely the use of torque to lower and raise a garage door. These are located above the opening of the garage and are available in many variations. One way to tell if a torsion spring is wearing out is by the color. Signs of a rust color signifies a fair amount of wear and tear while darker torsion springs are typically newer. However, there is no warning sign that will indicate a torsion spring will soon fail.
Choosing a Spring
Extension springs are typically cheaper in price, although torsion springs can support more weight. Torsion springs also have a life span that usually doubles that of extension springs and are also deemed the safer of the two. Nevertheless, most residential construction tends to use extension springs.
Are you living in the Charlotte metro area and need new garage door parts or springs? Visit Neighborhood Garage Door’s website for special savings then give them a call.
Neighborhood Garage Door is ready to provide Charlotte garage door repair service to homeowners no matter what kind of problem presents itself. Our technicians are well versed in the finer points of garage door installation as we continue to provide the best residential garage door repair Charlotte, NC has to offer.
