Think of how many times your garage door opens and closes per day: You’ve got sending the kids off to school, leaving for work yourself, returning home, etc. Now that’s it’s summertime and the kids are home from school, consider how much that number goes up…
Your garage door springs can wear out at any time of year, but with all of this extra activity, it’s important that you keep an eye out during the summer months and catch worn out springs before they break.
To help you determine when it’s time for replacement garage door springs, Precision Garage Door’s specialists created the following guide for homeowners.
Garage Door Spring Types
Springs do the heavy lifting for your garage door. However, like all mechanical parts, they wear out with time and regular use. Your garage door either uses torsion springs or extension springs to lift and lower the door.
Torsion springs are the most common type of garage door springs installed on modern door systems. This spring type runs parallel to the door on the inside wall of the garage. It uses a coiling motion to store and release energy.
Extension springs are positioned perpendicular to the door, above each of the door’s tracks. This type of spring uses the door’s motion to extend and collect energy when the door shuts. Then, these springs release it by contracting when the door opens.
Warning Signs Springs Need to Be Replaced
The number one sign that your garage door springs need to be replaced is a broken spring. By doing a simple visual inspection of your garage door system once a month, you can ensure you purchase replacement garage door springs before they reach their breaking points.
Failing the Balance Test. When springs are near the end of their lifespans, they lift less and less. See if your garage door spring’s muscle is slipping or holding strong by disconnecting the door from the opener and manually evaluating the door’s balance.
Apparent Rust. Rust is never a good sign, and that’s certainly true for your garage door’s springs. Significant rust not only means that the springs are deteriorating at a rapid rate, but your door’s system as a whole probably hasn’t gotten the proper care it needs in quite some time.
Straight Stretches in Spring Coils. Extension springs are literally on their last coil when you see fewer and fewer coils present. A straight piece in the spring is a surefire sign of spring failure that requires immediate attention.
Call Your Garage Door Services Provider for Trusted Spring Replacements
Garage door springs hold an astounding amount of energy in their coils and tending to them without the proper training is never wise. If any of the symptoms above are consistent with what you’re seeing with your garage door’s springs, contact a certified garage door services provider in your area.
Homeowners in Delaware and Maryland can contact Precision Garage Door of Delaware for fast garage door spring replacements. Call us today!