4 Things to Know About Garage Door Springs

June 24th, 2019 Posted in Garage Door Springs
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The spring on your garage door is what allows you to open and close this large door with ease. Garage doors weigh hundreds of pounds and without a spring to mitigate this heavy weight, it would take some strength to pull it up and keep gravity from slamming it shut. Heavy-duty springs are the workhorse of a garage door system – knowing the basics about these springs can help you maintain your garage door and opening system. Here are four things you should know about your garage door spring.

  1. Torsion and extension springs. Garage doors either have torsion or extension springs. Most garage doors with an opening system have torsion springs that wind and recoil to release energy to move the door.
  2. Torsion springs wear out. The continuous winding of the torsion spring wears out the material over time. Eventually, the spring will break, often without warning. When this happens, the garage door will no longer be easy to open.
  3. Cycles for springs. You can gauge how soon a spring will wear out on the number of cycles (opening and closing). Most torsion springs will last about 20,000 cycles, so the more times per day you use it, the quicker it will need replacement.
  4. Replacement. You can wait until a spring breaks to replace it, but then you may be stuck until it can be replaced. Proactive replacement is best, but never attempt to do this yourself as it can be dangerous. Leave spring replacements to a garage door professional.

Garage door springs make life easier and require little maintenance to work day in and day out. Just perform annual service on your opening system and keep the system lubricated to reduce stress on your spring to make it last longer.

Posted on behalf of: 
Habpro Garage Doors
Dacula, GA 30019
770-985-3355

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How Old Is Your Garage Door Spring?

January 31st, 2016 Posted in Garage Door Springs
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If you don’t know the answer to, “How old is your garage door spring?”, it may be time to find out. Like all mechanical devices, garage door openers and their working parts wear out and need maintenance and service. Most garage door springs will last several years with normal wear and tear. However, you don’t want to wait until your spring breaks in the middle of the night to find out it needs to be replaced. You could end up with your vehicle stuck in your garage until a garage door service can replace your spring.

When a garage door spring snaps, it can be dangerous. Most garage doors weight a few hundred pounds and a snapped spring could allow your door to crash down on your vehicle, or worse, you or someone in your family. Because of the high tension and risk of injury, springs should be replaced by a professional that has the experience and training to safely remove the spring and install a new one.

The best way to avoid a surprise garage door spring break is to have your garage door regularly serviced. A maintenance service will ensure your door is balanced, that all sensors are working correctly, parts are lubricated, and a full inspection can be performed on the entire system, including the spring. If this is done annually, your garage door service company can recommend when the spring should be replaced before it breaks on its own. This can save you the inconvenience of having your garage door malfunction at an inopportune time or cause injury or damage when the spring breaks unexpectedly.

Posted on behalf of Habpro
Dacula, GA 30019
(770) 985-3355

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Maintaining Your Garage Door Springs

September 14th, 2014 Posted in Garage Door Springs
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If you have ever had your garage door spring break, you know it can be a highly inconvenient situation. In one quick snap, your garage door goes from easily sliding up and down to virtually immobile. While all springs will eventually need replacement, there are ways to increase the life of your spring through regular maintenance. By taking care of your garage door spring, you can prevent most spring failures from catching you off guard. 

Basic Garage Door Spring Maintenance

Garage door springs are designed to safely allow your door to easily open and close with minimal impact on the opening device. Most springs have an expectant lifespan of 10,000 cycles of opening and closing. However, if not maintained properly, this life-span can be cut drastically short. A few basic maintenance tips to get the most time and cycles from your garage door springs include: 

  • Balancing your door. A poorly balanced door will create excess wear on your spring. Make sure your door is balanced correctly to allow for easier movement up and down the tracks.
     
  • Prevent rust. A rusty spring will not last long; the rust causes both the spring and the coil to weaken and become more likely to break. Lubricating the spring every few months can keep rust away.
     
  • Garage door tune-ups. A properly functioning garage door lessens the wear and tear on your spring. Schedule a tune-up with your local garage door repair company each year to ensure all parts are in good working order.
     
  • Preventive replacement. If your spring lasts for 10,000 cycles, opening two to four times a day, it will last for about five to seven years. Instead of waiting for the inevitable, consider replacing your spring once it approaches or has passed this mark. Consult your garage door service technician during annual tune-ups about when you should replace your spring.

Posted on behalf of Habpro

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SAFE Garage Door Tips For Children

July 1st, 2014 Posted in Garage Door Springs
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Garage doors can be fascinating for kids; anything that moves up and down at the push of a button can draw their attention. However, garage doors are not toys and can be extremely dangerous to a child. Weighing hundreds of pounds with many moving parts, garage doors can easily become the source of injury to a child if safety precautions are not followed in your home. With summer ahead, many garage doors will be left open while doing home projects, so now is a good time to review some SAFE garage door tips. 

  • Spring inspection. Your garage door springs are one of the most dangerous components of your door system. If the spring breaks unexpectedly while the door is open, it can come crashing down, causing injury. Make sure to have your springs regularly inspected and replaced as needed by a garage door professional.
     
  • Adjust sensors. Your garage door opener most likely has safety laser sensors to ensure that the door does not close on objects below. Adjust your sensors to ensure they are properly aligned and working correctly.
     
  • Fingers need to stay clear. Make sure that children are not touching cables or any parts of the garage door, especially when it is opening or closing. It only takes a second for a finger or hand to get caught and seriously injured.
     
  • Educate children on garage door safety. Kids need to know not to play with or around garage doors. Garage door openers should be at least five feet off the ground; however, the best solution is to keep kids away from playing around garage doors altogether. 

As useful and convenient as a garage door system is, it can be dangerous, especially to kids when safety precautions are not followed. Take the time this spring to have your garage door inspected and tuned-up by your local garage door service professional.

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

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Garage Door Spring Replacement

June 3rd, 2014 Posted in Garage Door Springs
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Garage door springs are an essential element to make automatic garage doors open and close. The springs are used to counterbalance the weight of the heavy garage door to make it easy for the motor to open and close the door easily. The springs are equally balanced by the weight of the door. For instance, a door that weighs 150 pounds will require a spring force of 150 pounds to pull against the door. Balancing garage door springs can be very dangerous because of the tension applied on the spring when it is stretched. It is always, ALWAYS best to call a garage door specialist when any part of your garage door needs to be repaired because most repairs involve replacing or adjusting the garage door springs. Many accidents, injuries, and deaths have occurred from do-it-yourself home repairs. 

Torsion springs are used to balance a garage door by applying torque to the shaft with drums at each end. A cable is attached to each drum and extends to the bottom fixture at the bottom of the door where it is secured. In order to have a balanced system, the torsion spring must unwind and wind as the garage door opens and closes. Extension springs are typically mounted along the sides of the garage door or above the horizontal tracks. These springs stretch and contract as the door opens and closes to counterbalance the weight of the door. Whenever there is damage to a spring or cable, there is a high possibility that a cable could snap or that the door could fall. Because of this risk, only a trained and licensed professional should handle any type of garage door spring repairs. 

A garage door spring replacement is often essential whenever a garage door is not functioning properly. However, it is important to know that this repair is a highly dangerous one and should be left to the professionals. Call your local garage door repair company for any assistance that your garage door needs.

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

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Serious Signs That Your Garage Door Needs Service

December 6th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Springs
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Your garage door is a rather complicated system made up of several components and moving parts.

While you do not need to become a garage door expert, it’s a good idea that you become familiar with the most common signs that your garage door seriously requires repair.

Is Your Garage Door Uneven?

A garage door that is an uneven or lopsided while descending or ascending is definitely in need of repair. The possible causes range from broken or frayed springs to a seriously worn torsion spring. Severe injury can result from improperly repairing or replacing torsion springs. It is highly recommended to allow a trained garage door technician to service your garage door, especially garage door spring repairs

Does Your Garage Door Make Strange or Loud Noises?

Strange, loud noises are one of the first signs that there is something wrong or broken with your garage door. Pinpointing the origin of your garage door’s noise can be a challenge. A trained technician can inspect your door, locate the noise, and repair the problem.

Will Your Garage Door Just Not Open?

Your garage door’s failure to open can be the result of various problems. However, here are a couple of basic factors for you to consider, if your garage door won’t open. Ask yourself the following two questions:

  1. Is your garage door uneven in the track?
  2. Did you hear any strange or unusual noises coming from your garage door before it malfunctioned?

If your answer to either of the above two questions is “yes,” then it is recommended for you to call a professional to repair your garage door.

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

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Repairing Broken Garage Door Springs

October 23rd, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Springs
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Do-it-yourself home repairs and renovations are all the rage right now. There are entire television networks dedicated solely to DIY projects, but that doesn’t mean that all projects are created equal. Unless you’re a licensed professional with extensive experience, there are some projects you just shouldn’t attempt on your own. 

One such project is the repair of broken torsion or extension springs on your garage door. The springs that help your door open and close are under an enormous amount of tension. Torsion springs especially are tightly wound and potentially dangerous, especially to the inexperienced homeowner attempting to make a repair. Not only could you cause significant injury to yourself in the event of an attempted repair gone awry, but also anyone standing in close proximity. Attempting to repair broken garage door springs may also lead to more significant damage to the door itself. In the end, DIY garage door spring repairs can be much more expensive that simply calling a professional from the outset. 

Because torsion spring repairs and replacements are considered very dangerous, it’s often difficult for a non-licensed individual to obtain the correct replacement springs. Working with a professional garage door installation and repair technician ensures not only your safety, but also that you’ll be able to get the right parts for the job. If you suspect that your garage door is in need of repair, be sure to contact a competent technician in your area to ensure that repairs are conducted in a safe and timely manner. Your local garage door installation and repair professional is trained and equipped to handle this dangerous repair, and to do so in a way that mitigates risk to your person or property.

 

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Spring Repair of Your Garage Door Can Be Dangerous

August 15th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Springs
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While there are certainly many maintenance tasks that the handy homeowner can do themselves when it comes to overhead garage doors, replacing the garage door springs isn’t one of them. Garage door springs are dangerous. Avoid unnecessary risk – garage door spring repairs or replacement is one job you should leave for your local garage door service professional. 

If you are having trouble with your garage door not functioning smoothly and quietly, you can test the door by opening and closing it manually. If it still seems to operate with difficulty, then your springs may possibly be out-of-balance. If the door does not move at all when the garage door opener is activated, yet you hear the motor of the opener trying to move, then your springs  may have broken. 

All garage doors will have one of two different types of springs. Torsion springs can be seen over the top of your closed garage door, whereas extension springs can be found on both sides of the door above the tracks. The springs are the most important part of actually raising and lowering your garage door and, as such, they are tightly wound and under a great deal of tension. Just think of weight they carry as they raise and lower the door. 

Regardless of the type of spring on your garage door, should they snap or break while you are attempting to work on them, they can potentially cause serious injury. Furthermore, the springs of your garage door are attached to brackets at the bottom of the door. Like the springs, these brackets are also under a lot of tension and should only be adjusted by a professional garage door service technician with the experience necessary to do the job safely.

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Don’t Risk Garage Door Spring Repairs

March 26th, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Springs
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While they’re easy to overlook when they’re working properly, the torsion and extension springs are one of the most important parts of your garage door’s functionality. They can also be one of the most dangerous for inexperienced homeowners to attempt to repair in the event of a breakage or failure. Extension springs contract and release as they lift your garage door, while torsion springs can lift up to five hundred pound and can very easily burst if they’re handled improperly. Both types of springs can be dangerous to repair, but torsion springs can cause very serious bodily injury with little warning. 

Both torsion and extension springs are very powerful because they’re tightly wound. For this reason, it’s important that you contact an experienced garage door repair and installation technician in your area to diagnose any problems you’re having with garage door springs and to repair them for you. The enormous amount of tension that these springs are under as a result of being so powerful mean that they’re simply not safe for inexperienced homeowners and handyman repair workers to tackle. Springs can and often do break as they’re being wound or unwound, cones may slip or explode and it is absolutely imperative that the correct tools and equipment be used in any garage door repair. 

Remember that your safety is far more important than saving a few bucks when it comes to garage door spring repairs, especially those that involve torsion or extension springs. Contact an experienced Atlanta-area professional before attempting any repairs at all, and be sure that you exercise proper safety precautions when dealing with a garage door that’s operating improperly.

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Garage Door Spring Repair

January 1st, 2013 Posted in Garage Door Springs
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If your garage door won’t open or if you suddenly hear a loud noise coming from your garage, chances are one of your garage door springs has broken. This is the most common type of garage door repair.  It is also a repair best left to a professional garage door repairman. 

Garage door springs are what makes the door go up and down. They fall into two major categories: 

Extension Springs – In this style of garage door, the springs run parallel to the tracks. When the door is closed, the springs extend, and when it is open, the springs contract.  Used in many older models of garage doors, extension springs tend to work independently from one another, which causes the garage door and its various parts to wear unevenly over time.  

Torsion Springs – Typically found in newer model garage doors, torsion springs are located above the door. They tend to work as a pair and, wear evenly and operate very  smoothly.   

Regardless of the type of spring your particular garage door has, when it breaks, it really is best to leave garage door spring repairs or replacement up to a professional, no matter how experienced of a do-it-yourselfer you are.  All springs require tension to work properly, and garage doors need a great amount of tension in order for you to be able to lift them up and down. The slightest slip up can be dangerous – with very painful results. 

The other point that should be made, too, is that springs have to be precisely measured, based on the weight of the door. Install the wrong spring, and you might be injured or cause the door to wear or break. It is indeed a delicate balance of engineering. 

Again, if you find yourself with broken garage door springs, do yourself a favor and call a professional garage door repair service.

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