Have you ever wondered what happens if the garage door spring breaks? Well, here’s the simple answer: When a garage door spring breaks, the stored energy gets released and can cause harm to your door, the stuff inside your garage, and even you.
A broken spring on the garage door is not just a small problem; it can mess up your daily routine. But don’t worry; understanding what happens when this important part stops working is the first step to fixing it.
In this blog, we’ll talk about the possible outcomes of dealing with a broken garage door spring and how to fix it.
Let’s get started.
What Are Garage Door Springs?
So, what does a garage door spring do? Garage door springs have an important job—they help lift and lower heavy garage doors. There are two main types:
- extension springs
- and torsion springs.
Extension springs are up top, and they stretch when the door opens. Torsion springs are on the sides, and they twist when the door opens.
What Happens If a Garage Door Spring Breaks?
Garage door springs do a heavy job, lifting the weight of your door so it opens and closes smoothly. So, what happens when a garage door spring breaks? If these springs break or get damaged, they can be really dangerous and need quick fixing by a pro. So, don’t mess with a garage’s spring. You can’t open your garage door if the springs aren’t working.
Let’s dive into the details of these issues in the following:
- Difficulty in Opening: When the garage door spring breaks, your garage door gets super heavy. Opening it becomes hard, and you might not be able to lift it manually.
- Strange Noises: A broken spring can make the garage door produce weird and loud sounds when you try to use it. That’s a sign that something’s not working right.
- Door Unevenness: You might also see that your garage door isn’t even anymore. One side could be higher than the other, creating a lopsided situation.
How to Tell If Garage Door Spring is Broken
So, what causes a garage door spring to break? You can tell if your garage door spring is broken by noticing a few things:
- Loud Noise: When you open or close the door, listen for a loud bang or popping noise.
- Sagging or Uneven Door: Check if the door looks like it’s sagging or not level. It might be uneven.
- Difficulty in Opening or Closing: If it’s hard to open or close the garage door, that could be a sign of a broken spring.
- Strange Noises from Opener: Pay attention to the garage door opener. If it’s making weird noises or seems to be struggling, it could be because of a broken spring.
Why Do Garage Door Springs Break?
Among all the parts of your garage door, the springs face the most stress and are more likely to break. Several reasons can lead to garage door spring breakage:
Lack of Care
Many times, garage door springs break because they’re not taken care of properly. To make your springs last longer, apply white lithium grease to them every season, and check if your garage door is balanced. An easy test is lifting the door halfway and letting go. Good springs will keep the door steady, while ones that need replacing might sag. Since winters are tough on springs, it’s crucial to keep them lubricated during those months.
Rust Issues
Rust is a big problem for garage door springs, especially if you live in a place with lots of rain or humidity. Even a little rust can make the springs wear out faster. To prevent rust, spray a silicone-based lubricant on your springs every season.
Wear and Tear
Most garage door springs start to break after about 10,000 cycles, no matter how good they are. If you use your garage door a lot, especially if it’s your main entrance, the springs may wear out even faster. While wear and tear is normal, you can still make your garage door last longer with some care.
Rules to Keep Safe
When facing a garage door repair, spring issues often require prompt attention to ensure smooth functionality and safety. When a garage door spring breaks, follow some rules to maintain safety.
- Test Your Garage Door: Check your garage door springs regularly to make sure they can handle lifting the door. Stand outside before testing to avoid getting hurt. Open the door halfway and stop to see if it sags. If it does, the springs might need replacing soon.
- Keep the Door Closed: If the springs are damaged, always keep your garage door closed. This keeps your home safe and makes sure the door won’t fall and hurt your car or you.
- Kids Away from the Door: Teach your kids not to play with the garage door. Make sure they know it’s not a toy, and they should never run under it.
- Call a Pro: Since broken garage door springs are risky, it’s best to call a professional to fix it instead of trying to do it yourself.
What to Do if Your Garage Door Spring Breaks
When the garage door springs break, you need to decide whether to replace them yourself or call a pro. If you’re not familiar with fixing garage door springs, it’s safer to let professionals handle garage door spring replacements.
But if you want to give it a try, here’s what you can do for fixing the springs of a garage door:
Stay Safe
Before you try fixing anything, make sure to unplug the power to the garage door opener to prevent accidents.
Know Your Springs
Even if you’re getting help from a pro, it’s good to know what kind of garage door springs you have. There are two main types: extension springs and torsion springs. Extension springs have a looser coil, and they’re more common.
Replacing Torsion Springs
Torsion springs are trickier and riskier to work with because they store a lot of energy. If you’re not experienced with fixing garage doors, it’s better to let the professionals handle it. Always keep your garage door completely closed when replacing torsion springs. You’ll need a winding board to twist and untwist the springs. Place the winding bar at the end of the torsion spring and slowly release the pressure.
Replacing Extension Springs
Extension springs are a safer option to replace because they start compressed and resist stretching forces. Keep your doors open while replacing them to release tension. Secure them with clamps to prevent them from falling. To replace extension springs, disconnect them from brackets, pulleys, and cables. Attach the new spring to the safety cable and pulley.
Are you wondering, “How do I know what garage door spring to buy?” Give our informative blog a thorough read to find out the right answer.
Preventing Broken Garage Door Springs
Let’s explore how to prevent broken garage door springs:
- Get Regular Checkups: Make sure to have a professional technician check and fix your garage door regularly.
- Keep Things Lubricated: Give the moving parts of your garage door a good coating of lubricant from time to time.
- Watch the Weight: Don’t put too much stuff on your garage door. Overloading can cause problems.
- Be Careful with a Broken Spring: If you think your garage door spring is broken, don’t try to open or close the door by hand.
Dealing with garage door springs can be risky. It’s always safer to call a professional if you think your spring is broken. Taking good care of your garage door with regular checkups and maintenance can make the springs last a long time.
Do you know how and why you should lubricate garage door springs? Visit our insightful blog to find out the right answer.
Call a Pro
If you need professional and reliable broken garage door spring repair in Aurora, choose Pop’s Garage Door LLC. We’re experts in fixing and changing springs, handling both kinds – the twisty ones and the stretchy ones.
Our team makes sure everything works well, offering services like setting up, keeping things in good shape, making improvements, and fixing things quickly, all with a 100% guarantee. Get a free consultation and up to 25% off your first service.
Wrapping Up
So, to sum it up, knowing what happens if a garage door spring breaks is really important for keeping your garage door safe and working well. When the spring is broken, it can make it hard to open, create weird noises, and make the door uneven. Always remember to be safe—don’t try to fix it yourself if you’re not a pro. Taking good care of your garage door with regular checkups and fixing problems quickly can make your springs last longer.
FAQs
How to open a garage door with a broken spring? / If your garage door spring is broken, how to open it safely?
If your garage door spring is broken, don’t try to open it by hand. Get a professional to fix it safely and properly.
Why is a garage door spring dangerous?
Garage door springs do a big job, holding a lot of tension to lift the heavy door. If they break, the energy they release can be risky, causing harm or damage.
How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last?
The twisty ones, called torsion springs, can last up to 15,000 to 20,000 times, opening and closing. The stretchy ones, called extension springs, last around 10,000 times. On average, you might need to change your garage springs every 7 to 12 years. This depends on the type of spring and how often you use your garage.
