Many people use their garage doors multiple times a day, and several hundred times a month and yet fail to notice that it is one of the hardest working machines in their homes. However, it is an honest mistake because garage doors are built to be robust.
Many of the latest ones can last for years without maintenance or even showing visible signs of wear. That said the real wear or should we say the most significant wear takes place within the garage door itself.
The lifting and lowering of the garage door all boil down to the springs. The springs are what hold up the heavyweight of a modern garage door. That’s why it is also one of the first parts to fail. While Garage Door Springs are built to last a few thousand cycles at the very least, when they break, it makes the garage door very dangerous.
Plus, the door becomes near impossible to close or open. If the garage door springs are rusty, it is only a matter of time before they break and with it, the garage door could come crashing down.
Now that you know what happens when the Garage Door Spring Fails, and understand its importance, the next question is, how frequently should it be replaced? The answer to your question lies in the fact that it boils down to how the garage door is used and its age.
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Identifying a Faulty Garage Door Spring
One of the things you should always do is to Check Your Garage Door Springs For Rust and Fault. Visually Checking Your Springs should suffice, since it should tell you or at least give you some idea as to how much longer they can last.
Below we go through a quick checklist of what you should check the garage door spring for visually or in terms of use before getting it replaced ASAP.
The Garage Door Refuses to Open and Close
Now if the garage door refuses to open or close, then that’s an obvious red flag for there being something wrong with the spring. However, it could indicate many different other issues like with the opener. That said if you see that the springs are broken, jammed or appear to be rusty get the garage door springs replaced and the door examined professionally.
Check Your Garage Door for General Wear
You will want to look for signs that other components of your garage door are wearing out. Stand inside the garage and inspect them after closing the door. You will want to look at the springs, pulleys, mounting hardware, rollers and cables for signs of damage or wear.
However, keep in mind that even though the springs may appear to be in pretty good shape, any damage to the other components means more stress on the springs which means there is more risk of damage.
Check the Spring for Loss of Tension
You should be able to tell if there is a loss of tension in the springs if they are elongated or stretched. The springs should normally appear tight and in stiff shape.
You can also try to open the garage door manually. If you have an electronic opener, then disconnect it first. If the springs are working, then you should be able to lift the garage door fairly easily. If you feel undue resistance or is difficult or does not remain open, then you have an issue with the springs.
Do an Automatic Force Setting Test
If you have an automatic garage door opener, a force setting test can be invaluable. You will want to wait until the garage door is fully opened. Then use the button on the wall or on the transmitter to automatically close it. As the door closes, stand near it with your hands stretched out.
Ideally, your garage door should automatically close or reverse sensing an obstruction. If it does not work as it should, then you have a serious safety issue that needs to be inspected which may or may not have anything to do with the springs.
Final Word
Replacing your garage door springs is something that’s part of Routine Maintenance. Generally, you’ll want to replace them once every two years. However, if you have low-quality springs, then they might even need to be replaced every year. That’s why it is worth investing in high-quality, durable springs rated for thousands of cycles.
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