How to Check and Repair Garage Torsion Springs

The most important and vital parts on any garage door are the torsion springs, which allow the door to open and close effortlessly and easily. If one or both of the springs are not functioning properly, the door may not open all the way or even at all. As with all mechanical and electrical equipment in the home, garage doors require frequent examination and service to ensure that they go on working the way they were designed to.

If you are experiencing any trouble opening or closing your garage door, you should always pay close attention to the torsion springs, which are the most obvious perpetrators. Depending on the age of the springs, they are likely to have worn out to a certain degree. Garage door springs are maintained under extremely high tension and are wound tightly. It is because of this high tension that even the most highest of quality steel springs will wear over time and could eventually snap. Because of this risk of sudden breakage, all garage door opener torsion springs have to be contained in order to prevent serious injury or property damage. That containment is either in the form of cables or in the case of roller shutter doors, an external steel tube.

Even if they are contained and you have an older garage door, it is advisable to have them inspected on a regular basis by a professional installer. If needed, the springs should be replaced. Many overhead garage doors will have two separate springs installed. If only one is broken, do not just replace it and not the other. Both springs should be replaced at the same time even though the good one may show little indication of wear. It stands to reason that the other spring is liable to break before you know it.

You might have a garage door that causes the springs to squeak loudly or make a chattering noise when the door is lifted or lowered. Just because it makes these noises does not indicate that either the door or the springs need replacements. Instead, the problem can be probably be fixed with a simple bit of lubrication of the various moving components.

Another indication that your garage door requires maintenance is if there are shredded and worn strips of cable hanging loose. Irrespective of the quality of your garage door opener, this is an indication that the cables are on the verge of breaking. An abrupt break in the garage door cables can result in serious injury. These chafed cables ought to be tested and most likely replaced by a professional repairer who is familiar with the problems associated with springs and damaged cables.

Garage doors by themselves are very heavy and because of that weight, the torsion springs need to be maintained under extreme tension. You should therefore not attempt any mechanical alterations yourself because of the risks involved in doing so. It would be wise to have a professional garage door engineer inspect these important parts of your home every year to avert possible injury and problems caused by bad springs.