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.
