Use the Wrong Door Springs? Here's What Could Happen

After more than 40 years in business, a critical piece of advice we like to give homeowners when they have questions about their garage door is: “Trust your eyes and ears.” There is an old saying, “Seeing is believing.” The same applies to your ears. When we have been asked to come out to a customer’s house on a service call, one of the first things we do is a visual inspection of the door and hardware, including springs, rails, sensors, and all other components needed for your garage door to operate smoothly and safely. We will then attempt to open or close the door, listening for tell-sale sounds indicating there is a mechanical or some other problem to be aware of.

Many of the problems that we come across are related to garage door springs in Broomfield, where a homeowner reports their door makes a grinding sound when in use, or only closes slowly or with extra effort. Are the springs bad? Probably.

What Can Happen When You Use The Wrong Garage Door Springs?

If you are an accomplished DIY enthusiast or know your way around hand tools and machinery and think you can replace garage door springs on your own, our advice is: "Please call a garage door springs Northglenn professional instead.” Garage door springs are tightly wound coils of steel that could result in damage to personal property or serious physical injury if they fly off. They should only be replaced or repaired by a trained expert with access to the right equipment.

Here are some things that can happen if you use the wrong garage door springs.

• You Can Damage the Garage Door Opener - If garage door springs are too large, they offer more strength than is required. The door will open with more force than needed, rolling up quickly and endangering its safety. Children, pets, and even unsuspecting adults could be knocked down by the unexpected force when the door opens. The garage door will also bound up and down upon opening, creating additional safety issues.
• Garage Door Springs Cause the Door to Not Open - Most garage doors weigh anywhere from about 80 pounds to 250 pounds and are heavier than you realize. If you install or otherwise use the wrong torsion spring, the door will not open. If you try and force the door open, you will cause further damage to the panels that make up the door, cause the springs to fly loose, or damage or break other components.
  Keep in mind, the average garage door springs will last about 10,000 cycles – opening and closing the door. Upgraded hardware may result in springs that last about 15,000 cycles, but a Broomfield garage door service professional should inspect the garage door and opener once a year to ensure they are working smoothly.
• The Incorrect Springs Could Cause the Garage to Fall Off its Tracks - This is a worst-case scenario that we warn homeowners about. Garage doors can weigh hundreds of pounds and are easily heavy enough to cause significant damage or destruction to personal property, and bodily harm or death.
• The Wrong Garage Door Springs Can Endanger Your Property and Safety - Many customers never think about this aspect of incorrect door springs, but it is true. The springs are critical in opening and closing your garage door. If they do not work, and the door cannot be closed once it is open, then you might as well put up a sign inviting burglars into your home: “Our garage door is not working, take what you need!”

When Do You Know It Is Time To Replace The Torsion Springs?

When the door is stalled from moving up and down and when one or both torsion springs are broken, you will hear a loud, banging sound. The door will feel extremely heavy and most likely will not move up or down as expected, and you can see about a two-inch gap in the springs. Torsion springs that are operating smoothly and as expected will always be tightly wound, with barely visible gaps. If you are attempting a visual inspection, remember, torsion springs are located on the wall directly above your garage.

How Do You Know It Is Time To Replace The Extension Springs?

The extension springs, fixed to door brackets and running along the side of the horizontal tracks, need to be replaced if the coils do not expand and contract evenly. They should be replaced by a garage door springs Northglenn professional if they appear oblong, are not symmetrical, or broken.

Maintenance for Your Garage Door Springs

If your garage door springs are broken or otherwise will not work, then they need to be replaced. That much is obvious. But what might not be obvious to some homeowners is that simple, inexpensive maintenance can keep springs and the door running smoothly for their expected lifespan.

Inexpensive and widely available Teflon or silicone lubricant should be sprayed onto the springs, rollers, and hinges twice a year. These are the visible components that should be easy to reach. A few words of caution: Do not use the wrong lubricant on the springs or other moving components. Lithium and grease are dense and proposed for flat surfaces. These lubricants will absorb dirt which can lead to friction and cause mechanical components to wear out quickly. Oil is intended for sealed components like those in internal combustion engines and transmissions, not your garage door springs. WD-40 should never be used on garage door springs.

Call The Pros

The best way to keep your garage door working smoothly is to ensure the correct springs are installed. The best way to do that is by working with the experts at A Better Garage Door. Contact our team today at 303-920-2267 for more information or a consultation.