When your garage door spring breaks, it can be a severe nuisance. Not only will it disrupt your life, but it could also pose a safety hazard if someone is standing underneath the door during an open-close cycle.
The spring system is meant to help counterbalance the weight of your garage door. When it’s out of balance, the spring might struggle to lift the door or break.
Damage
A garage door is one of the essential parts of a home, and its springs are one of the most vulnerable components. They carry a lot of weight; when they break, your door can come crashing down, or a loved one can be seriously injured.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to prevent your garage door from breaking. Regular lubrication of your springs can significantly increase their lifespan.
Rusted springs can also dramatically shorten their life expectancy. Ideally, it would help if you planned to lubricate your garage door springs at least twice a year.
If you notice that your door is lowering faster than it should, you may have a broken spring. This can cause the opener to work harder, burning out your motor sooner than usual. Thankfully, you can get this problem fixed quickly and easily by a professional garage door repair company such as Rainer Garage Door.
Rust
Rust is one of the most common reasons springs break on garage doors. This is because rust increases the friction that springs experience while coiling and retracting during cycles.
This increases the rate of wear and tear on springs and decreases their lifespan. Regular lubrication with a silicone-based lubricant will help increase your springs’ lifespan and keep them running smoothly.
Another reason springs fail is that dirt, grime, and debris build up in the track of your garage door. When this reaches a critical level, it can block the roller and cause your garage door to jam.
When this happens, your garage door will be left limbo – it cannot release or store more energy. This will eventually cause the springs to lose their ability to charge. It is the time to have them repaired or replaced. This will help you get the most out of your garage door and ensure it continues to function correctly.
Wear and Tear
Garage doors are an essential part of most homes. They are used a lot, and they can get worn out.
When a spring breaks, the door may fall or crash open, and garage door spring repairs might help you to fix that. This is because the garage door can no longer counterbalance gravity’s weight on the panels.
The most obvious sign that a garage door spring is broken is if you hear a loud *BANG!* in the middle of the garage. This sound comes from the torsion spring unwinding.
The average spring is rated for 10,000 cycles one door opening and closing. If you constantly come and go or have children who use the garage often, you’ll likely go through these cycles more quickly.
Misalignment
If your garage door springs are breaking, it’s likely because they are misaligned. These misalignments can occur in either the parallel or angular direction and can be a combination.
All components, including the motor, shaft, and coupling, are aligned in an ideal system. However, in reality, many factors can cause this not to happen.
One of the most common causes of misalignment is rust. Rust can weaken the coils of the spring and increase the amount of friction, which can lead to faster wear.
To prevent this, make sure your springs are lubricated regularly. You can spray them with WD-40 a few times a year. This easy, inexpensive fix will help keep your springs in great shape.