We aren’t talking about not having fun on your beach vacation. We’re talking about the spring in your garage door breaking, which can cause a host of problems, and could even be dangerous.
When the spring breaks, it creates a loud and alarming sound that is sure to get your attention. However, when you take a walk to the garage, you might not notice anything out of place at first. The next time you try to use your garage door, though, you notice that it doesn’t work right, or maybe it doesn’t work at all. You are also likely to hear a strange noise.
If you look up, you might notice that your lifting spring is broken, similar to the picture below.
Why would your spring suddenly break without warning? Maybe there were some warning signs that you missed. It’s time to learn more about your garage door spring, so this doesn’t happen to you.
The Spring System: Tendons of the Garage Door
The spring in your garage door is similar to the tendons in your body that allow your muscles to move. When there is a problem with the tendons, you can’t move. When there’s a problem with the garage door, it can’t move. Below is some important information on the basics of the two types of garage door spring systems.
1. TORSION SPRING
First, there is the torsion spring. This spring is in a steel tube over the head of the garage door. It is attached solidly to the wall. The door’s weight is transferred to the anchor plate at the door’s center. In garages without enough headroom, the plate could be at the end of the horizontal tracks. This is known as a low headroom track system or a double horizontal track system.
2. EXTENSION SPRING
Extension springs are found on either side of the door over the horizontal tracks. The coiled form of the springs will extend to lower or lift the door. The garage doors will need to have safety cables with extension springs.
The safety cables play an important role. If the spring breaks, the cables reduce the risk of injury or damage to property in the garage.
You should also keep in mind that the spring system is a counterweight for the door’s full weight. This means that the springs can counter the overall weight of the door. A door that’s 9’x 7’with windows might weigh around 135 lbs. in total.
A properly counterbalanced door lets you lift this weight with just one hand. The spring system is essential for this to occur.
When balanced, the door should not weight more than 10 lbs., even if you have an electric garage door opener. Keep in mind that the opener should only replace the manual effort of lifting that small amount of weight. This is true even when you have an opener that can lift up to 200 lbs.
When you have a door opener that can lift that much weight, keep in mind that it can also close with the same amount of force. Naturally, you want to be sure you aren’t near the door when it is descending.
What Makes a Lifting Spring Break?
Below are five of the most common causes of spring breaks.
1. Wearing Out Over Time
Regardless of the type of garage door spring, it will typically only have a lifespan of between 5 and 7 years. Fortunately, some garage door manufacturers can provide durable doors and springs, including 10,000-cycle spring systems. Each cycle refers to when the door goes through one opening and closing phase.
A garage door that is used 2 to 4 times a day would equate to around 1500 cycles a year.
Some might use their garage door more often. If you use yours more than five times a day, you might want to look for 20,000 to 25,000-cycle springs. These are available from certain manufacturers.
2. Defects
No one likes to think about defects, but they can occur. With extension springs, this could happen with a break of the ring at the end of the spring. With torsion springs, it could be rusting because of low-quality galvanizing.
3. The Spring Calibration is Not Right
Springs should be calibrated correctly. They will generally operate properly with a 5% variation. If you have a spring that is made to work with a door that weights with 100 lbs., do not use it with a 150 lb. door. Even though the door could still open and close, it will cause more stress, more wear, and could break soon.
4. Environmental Issues
Many garages do not have heat or insulation, which means they tend to be humid and cold.
Even when there are insulation and heating, the springs are typically near the exterior walls, remaining damp and cold. While the springs might be galvanized, and the galvanization could account for up to 40% of the spring’s composition, it could still rust. The metal could start to dry out and break when the temperatures get under -13 0F (-250C), as well.
5. Not Enough Maintenance
As with your vehicle and many parts of your home, you need to provide some basic maintenance to keep them in good working order. You should consider the lubrication of metal parts twice yearly for parts that come into contact with other metal parts. Do this once in the cold months when the temps start to drop below 32 0F (00C). Do it again when the overnight temperatures are above freezing.
Boost Your Spring System’s Lifespan Easily
Lubricate Once Each Year or when needed.
It’s easy, all you need to do is use a non-drip lithium base oil. Use a cloth or spray carefully and apply it completely around the coils.
Wipe off the excess and that’s all there is to it. Lubrication keeps the springs in better shape and can help to eliminate clinking noises in springs.
After few years the lubricant might pick up some dust, you can easily wipe it off and replace the lubricant.
Check with your garage door dealer to get the lubricants you’ll need.
Can You Find Someone to Perform the Maintenance?
Yes, and it’s easy to find help. Maybe you don’t have time for the maintenance on your own, so you can work with Garaga dealers for the “ Garage Door Tune-up ” program. We can take care of repairs and maintenance, as you can see in the image below.
Get Your Springs and Door in Shape
You want to make sure that you have quality springs and a great garage door.
Contact us toll-free at 1-800-780-3883.
We understand garage doors and garage door openers and can help you make the ideal choice for your needs and that will work with your budget. If you prefer, we can also offer a quotation by email.
Maybe you need to change your garage door. Check out the mobile-friendly Design Centre to get started.
You can also check out the Residential Garage Door Gallery to find some wonderful ideas.
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