All garage doors depend on a spring system to provide enough force to balance their heavy weight. Without springs, the doors can’t easily open and close, either manually or electronically. Over time, however, the springs may sustain damage or fail completely. While garage door spring repair services may be sufficient in some cases, in others, you may need to replace them. Here is what you need to know.

Signs of Faulty Springs

The average life expectancy of garage door springs is approximately seven to nine years. This assumes regular usage of three or four cycles a day, and regular maintenance. However, the amount that you use the door, combined with a lack of basic care, can lead to the springs’ early failure. It’s wise for homeowners to visually inspect the springs at least once every season to make sure that they’re in good condition.

The most obvious sign of a problem is a door that won’t open at all. Otherwise, you may notice that they appear worn or corroded. There may be a separation between the springs or visibly less tension that affects the way that the door opens and closes. You can test the quality of the springs by disengaging the automatic opener and opening the door manually, just as you would during a power outage. If you can lift it easily and without resistance, the springs are fine. But if it doesn’t lift, stop immediately and contact a garage door spring repair technician. It’s not safe to handle a door with broken springs, and the issue should be resolved promptly.

When to Replace Them

There are no do-it-yourself fixes for faulty garage doors. Bear in mind that springs can extend quite far and create exceptionally strong, potentially dangerous force—enough to lift a door that weighs several hundred pounds. This is why it’s critical to have a garage door spring repair technician handle the replacement for you.

If just one spring is faulty, you may have a choice to replace both. When that is the case, the door may open in a slightly wobbly fashion, and drop very quickly when closing. It’s wise to take care of them at the same time so that you don’t have to deal with a similar issue in the near future. Given that the springs are the same age, it won’t be long before the second follows suit.
 

Do you need the assistance of a qualified garage door spring repair technician? Turn to the team at Automatic Garage Door Repair Service in Monroe County, NY. Proudly serving the community for more than 35 years, the company offers both repairs and replacements, along with garage door opener repairs. You can even trust them with emergency repairs at your time of need. Visit them online for more information or call (585) 663-1180 to request a free estimate.