When your garage door has a problem, it can hinder your schedule. At worst, it can be dangerous to you and your family, especially when they disrupt the door’s operation when it opens and closes, whether manually or automatically.
Garage door springs are among the common components to fail, especially if they are old, rusted, or of poor quality. These springs are responsible for maintaining the tension required for your garage door to open and close at a steady speed. When garage door springs break, many homeowners fear they will have to replace the entire door. Fortunately, your garage door will be safe when you get a garage door spring repair or a garage door spring installation.
But how can you tell if you have a broken spring, and what can you do to resolve the problem? Here is what to know before getting a broken spring replacement.
Balance Issues
If you have trouble opening and shutting your door, but it still moves, it may be out of balance. If your door falls rapidly after lifting several inches, or if the door moves up and down on the track more slowly than usual, you may have a problem. Excessive noise as you lift and lower it is another clear sign of balance problems.
Issues with a garage door balance are not necessarily caused by a broken spring, but they might exacerbate an existing problem. If the problem is not resolved, they can eventually place too much strain on the spring, causing it to break or be damaged. Additionally, it can cause issues if you continue to operate the door despite balance issues.
Excessive Noise
Your garage door springs can wear out and start squeaking over time. While all garage doors make noises occasionally, if you hear loud noises that were not known in the past, it could indicate a problem. Applying lubricant to them can sometimes solve the problem, but if the noises persist, it could indicate something more serious.
Crooked Door
There are two types of springs for your garage door: torsion and extension. The torsion spring runs parallel to the bottom of the garage door, while the two extension springs on either side run perpendicular to the torsion spring.
When one of the extension springs fails, the door is pulled up faster on one side than the other. Your garage door may lift crookedly as a result of this unbalance.
How to Fix It
You will likely come across various websites claiming that you can fix or replace your garage door spring on your own. And, if you are like most homeowners, you might be tempted to save a few bucks by doing it yourself. However, given the statistics on garage door-related injuries, the risk to you and your family is simply not worth it.
Your garage door is heavy. If your garage door spring is broken, it will not be able to handle the weight of the door. If the door crashes down, it may injure anyone who is caught in its path. Hiring an expert for garage door spring replacement ensures that you and your family are in good hands. Additionally, garage door technicians have the expertise and tools to handle the problem.
Now that you know how to spot a broken garage door spring, who can you hire for garage door spring installation? Palms Garage Doors offers garage door repair at affordable prices, serving the Greater Bay Area from San Francisco to San Jose and up to Oakland. For emergency garage door repair, contact Palms Garage Doors for a free estimate.
