How to Spot a Failing Garage Door Spring
A garage door spring is an essential component of your garage door system, responsible for bearing the weight of the door and allowing it to open and close smoothly. Like all mechanical parts, a garage door spring can wear out over time, leading to potential safety risks. Recognizing the signs of a failing garage door spring early can help prevent accidents and costly repairs.
One common sign that your garage door spring may be failing is difficulty in operating the door. If you find it hard to lift or lower your garage door manually, or if your automatic opener struggles to operate the door, this could indicate a problem with the springs. A properly functioning spring makes lifting the heavy weight of a garage door feel relatively light; when they’re not working correctly, you’ll notice an immediate difference.
Another telltale sign is a loud noise coming from your garage. When a torsion spring breaks, dig into it unwinds rapidly and creates an incredibly loud bang due to its high tension level. If you hear such noise originating from your garage but cannot find any visible cause like fallen items or broken glass, then there’s a good chance that one or more of your springs have failed.
Visual inspection can also reveal signs of failure. Look for gaps in torsion springs (those mounted above the top section of the doorway) as this indicates they’ve snapped under tension. With extension springs (those running parallel with horizontal tracks), look for stretching or elongation which suggests they’ve lost their pulling power.
In some cases, you might even see visible sagging in sections when trying to manually open up halfway – another clear indication of failing springs unable to bear load uniformly across width.
Unusual movements during operation are another red flag that should alert homeowners about possible issues with their overhead doors’ springs: jerky movements while opening/closing; uneven hanging when closed i.e., one side being higher than other; fast falling while lowering etc., all suggest problems related with balance which is maintained by properly functioning springs.
If you spot any of these signs, it’s important to contact a professional garage door repair service immediately. Garage door springs are under a lot of tension and can be dangerous if not handled correctly. A trained technician will have the right tools and knowledge to safely replace your failing spring and restore your garage door to proper working order.
In conclusion, awareness about these warning signs and timely action can save you from potential accidents caused by failing garage door springs. Regular maintenance checks also go a long way in ensuring longevity of your entire garage door system.