If you are like the majority of people, you most likely have paid very little attention to your overhead door springs. There's truly no other part on your overhead door and garage door opener that is as essential to the opening and lowering of the garage door. Here's another: Overhead door springs are hazardous!
In case you are having issue with your garage door, it may result from some problem with the springs. (For more information on recognizing garage door issues, check out Garage Door Troubleshooting.) Garage door springs often break, and they can be switched out. There are suppliers on the market who offer replacement springs to DIYers, and there are DIYers who have safely and successfully switched out their own springs. I won't try to influence you not to use this approach if you require new springs, but I will definitely advise that you thoroughly weigh the hazards versus the rewards in this particular task before making a decision to do so. And I also suggest that you ensure your medical insurance premium is paid up.
This particular information is not a how-to on garage door spring replacement. It is meant to familiarise you with garage door springs and a number of the service duties you can complete yourself.
Two Types of Overhead door Springs
There are two different styles of springs used on garage doors. Torsion springs are fastened just above the closed overhead door, while extension springs are located over the upper tracks on both edges.
Garage Door Springs and Your Safety
(For tips on locating an experienced overhead door pro, see How To Find the Best Overhead door Installers and Repairmen). In the event that your overhead door is old, or if it is revealing symptoms of age, let an experienced service provider inspect your garage door springs.
If the springs are simply squeaking and otherwise producing a lot of noise, there are a number of things you may want to do before calling in the troops. A little squeak does not inevitably mean a major issue, any more than an aching head means a brain tumor. If it makes any difference, apply some garage door lubricant to the springs and see. If it doesn't, you may have a significant complication developing. For recommendations on the most effective lubricating substances to apply on your overhead door, check this site. For some additional advice on decreasing the noise of your overhead door, see How To Quiet a Noisy Overhead door.
Overhead door Safety Cables
The two types of garage door springs discussed above work differently. A garage door using extension springs will have a safety cable on every side of the door going through the spring and affixed to the wall or ceiling. These cords are an important safety element. Extension springs are under a lot of tension, and if one was to bust, it might inflict serious injury. Safety cables help control a broken spring.
In the event get more info that you have extension springs on your overhead door but can't find any safety cables, call a garage door pro and get a pair installed.
Out of Balance Springs
The best sign of a well-functioning garage door is that it opens and closes smoothly and quietly. Whenever it stops working as it should, the problem can be serious. Try operating the garage door manually (pull the cord attached to the arm connecting the rail trolley device to the door). The issue might be that the springs are out of balance if the door remains to be hard to operate. In this particular instance, you may be certain that the issue isn't going to repair itself. And failing to repair it could result in an escalating list of damaged and worn out components. Get in touch with an expert IMMEDIATELY.
Overhead door Spring Brackets
Overhead door springs are affixed to brackets on the bottom of the garage door. Just like the springs, these brackets are also under a lot of pressure and can only be readjusted or otherwise serviced by a pro. Newer versions of garage doors have tamper-resistant brackets that prevent the curious yet unskilled amongst us from getting into trouble.