7 min read
Your garage door springs are the unsung heroes of your daily routine. These powerful components do the heavy lifting every time you open and close your garage door, counterbalancing hundreds of pounds of weight. When they fail, your garage door becomes inoperable and potentially dangerous. Here are seven warning signs that indicate your springs may need replacement.
Before diving into the warning signs, it's important to understand the two main types of garage door springs:
Located above the garage door opening, torsion springs wind and unwind to raise and lower the door. They typically last 10,000-20,000 cycles (one cycle = one open and close).
These run along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door. They stretch and contract to assist with door movement. While less expensive, they typically don't last as long as torsion springs.
If you press your opener button and the motor runs but the door doesn't move, or it only rises a few inches before stopping, your springs have likely broken. Without the counterbalance force of working springs, the opener motor cannot lift the full weight of the door.
A sudden, loud bang from your garage often indicates a spring has snapped. This sound occurs because the spring was under high tension and released that energy when it broke. If you hear this sound, do not attempt to operate the door, call a professional immediately.
When springs are worn or broken, they can't provide the controlled descent they're designed for. If your door slams shut instead of closing smoothly and slowly, it's a serious safety hazard and a clear sign of spring problems.
For torsion springs, a visible gap in the coils is a definitive sign of breakage. Inspect the spring above your door, if you see a separation in the coils, the spring has broken and needs immediate replacement.
If your garage door appears crooked when opening or closing, or one side hangs lower than the other, it could indicate that one spring is worn while the other is still functional. This puts extra stress on the working spring and the opener motor.
If you disconnect the opener and try to lift the door manually, it should feel relatively light and easy to lift. If it feels extremely heavy or won't stay open on its own, your springs are not providing the counterbalance they should.
Even if you haven't noticed obvious problems, springs have a finite lifespan. Most standard torsion springs last about 7-10 years with average use. If your door is in this age range, it's wise to have the springs inspected proactively.
Garage door spring replacement is one of the most dangerous home repairs you can attempt. Springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury or death if handled improperly. Here's why you should always call a professional:
When you call Garage Door Port Hueneme for spring replacement, here's what you can expect:
If you've noticed any of these warning signs, don't wait for a complete failure. Contact us today for a professional inspection. We serve Port Hueneme, Oxnard, Ventura, and all of Ventura County with 24/7 emergency service available.