Kendall Garage Door Pros: Identifying Garage Door Spring Issues

Garage doors, for the most part, are very reliable security mechanisms. Their components have been designed to be durable and sturdy, though they can become worn out over time. That being said, even our most reliable components are never fully immune to damage. Your garage door will be under a continuous amount of stress in its lifetime, especially since it is so frequently used.

According to the professionals at Kendall Garage Door Pros, wear and tear is just one of common reasons behind garage door spring faults. Your springs may snap under stress over time, rendering your door unsafe for daily use. In a case of a broken spring, you should avoid handling the door yourself – it will become highly unstable and could even collapse on you. Nobody wants to get injured or cause a great deal of property damage because of a broken or worn out spring, so it’s best to leave this kind of issue to qualified professionals.

Your door’s spring damage can take different forms – with some issues being much serious than the rest. Which is why we are going to take some time to explain to you about some of the different types of spring troubles, how to identify these, and what to do when you need the help of a repairs professional.

But first, let’s start with the basics.

Types of garage door springs

The two main types of springs you will find in most garage doors are torsion and extension. These are tightly wound to your garage door, but their location differs slightly. Extension springs are fitted along both sides of a garage door’s upper tracks, while torsion springs are attached just above the door. Another point of difference for extension springs is that these will have safety cables running through them from the ceiling – this helps the springs control your garage door’s opening and closing mechanisms.

When should springs be replaced?

Given that the main function of your springs is to raise and lower your door, spring replacements are an essential part of garage door maintenance. You are likely to not need to replace these unless they are showing strong signs or wearing and age. Keep an eye on your components, and if you think that you may benefit a replacement, get in touch with a repairs professional. They will be able to inspect your springs for you to confirm whether these are on the brink of exceeding their warranties. Replacing these before any breakage is ideal – and if your door has two springs, you’ll get more peace of mind if you change them both at the same time.  

Spring damage: Main symptoms to look out for

This can be quite tricky as some of the main signs and symptoms of breakage overlap with those of other malfunctioning components. A garage door technician will be able to identify the source of your issues – but before you call them for help, there are a few things to check for yourself.

Essentially, your door’s ability to open and close will be the main indicator of whether its components are in top working condition. When everything is running smoothly, you will not hear any gnashing noises, nor will there be a delay in operations. The intensity of the noise matters here: a tiny squeak is merely an indication that your springs need a bit of oiling, whereas loud noises are a sure sign of damage.
Make sure to check if your door is out of balance. If you experience issues opening and closing the door, see what happens when you try and lift it manually. There should be a cord on the side that will enable you to do this – if raising the door and keeping it in place proves too difficult, then you’re dealing with an out of track door. Spring breakage or malfunction tends to be the most common cause of this, and you should get a repairs technician to inspect it closely.

Sometimes, a visual inspection may help you identify broken springs. Check by the door’s rollers and upper tracks and see if there are any clear signs of damage. Don’t try to remove or handle these, though, as this can be quite dangerous to do without the adequate training.  

Why a repair technician will be your safest choice

Garage door repairs professionals have been especially trained to perform repairs and replacements in the safest and most reliable manner. They will be able to quickly identify which components are acting up, and the best solutions for your issues. Not only that, but their assistance is quite affordable and efficient: a lot of businesses operate 24/7 in case of emergencies and a credible professional always carries a truck loaded with tools and components to enable them to perform all the required fixes in a single visit. Another thing to keep in mind is that garage door repairs businesses will give you products with good warranties, so even if something goes awry you more peace of mind than you would with a botched DIY attempt.

To know you’re hiring a trusted garage door technician, make sure to ask around for recommendations. Keep 2-3 names handy and call them to inquire about warranties, minimum callout charges, certifications and insurance details. Some businesses may ask for a partial deposit prior to repairs, but they will never ask you for full payment upfront. Many businesses offer free consultations and price quotes, so make the most of these as well. If you have the time to do some background checking, look for customer reviews about your chosen business, and check with your local Better Business Bureau if these have had any complaints laid out against them. Stay away from businesses that don’t list their addresses anywhere, and be wary of information displayed online (especially when it comes to location as some dishonest operations may list a company address that doesn’t exist).

Are you based in Kendall, Florida? Then feel free to get in touch with Kendall Garage Door Pros. We are locally-based, have all the right credentials, and we are more than happy to answer any queries you may have about your springs or garage door troubles.

No matter where you live, though, we hope that this guide helps you understand a bit more about your garage door springs and any issues you may encounter along the way.