If your garage door has stopped opening, it may be time to call in a professional. While you may be able to complete some minor repairs, not all garage door repairs are appropriate DIY projects. If your garage door spring has broken, call a professional. Don’t risk the chance of injuring yourself or further damaging your property. Here are answers to a few common questions regarding broken garage door springs.
Do you need help now? We can help!
How do I know if my garage spring has broken?
If your garage door has stopped working, here are a few signs that your springs may be broken:
- The door doesn’t close all the way
- You can’t open the garage door with your automatic opener
- You can see a broken cable or a gap in the spring
- Your garage door opens 6” and then stops
- The top section of your garage door is bent
- The garage door falls more quickly when closing
- Your garage door doesn’t run smoothly
- You heard a loud noise when the garage door initially stopped working
All of these signs may be indications that your garage spring has broken. If one or more of these has occurred, contact a professional to repair your garage.
Why do garage door springs break?
The springs in your garage door do the heavy lifting in opening and closing your garage door. That means every time you open or close your garage door, you put a little more wear and tear on the springs. Temperature, age, and rust can also affect the integrity of your garage door springs, and these all factor into why garage door springs break. Maintenance can help prolong the life of your springs, but eventually, all garage door springs need to be replaced.
How long should garage door springs last?
Garage door springs are typically good for 10,000 cycles (each cycle consisting of one open and one close of your garage door). Depending on how often you use your garage door, that could be between five and ten years. Regular maintenance can help in detecting faulty springs and may save you from having to deal with a garage door that’s stopped working completely.
Can I fix the springs myself?
Fixing the springs on your garage door is incredibly dangerous and not recommended to untrained homeowners. Springs bear a great amount of tension and can cause serious harm to you or your garage if not handled correctly. A knowledgeable professional will be able to properly assess the problem and decide the best process for repair.
Continually using your garage door with a broken spring can cause further damage to your garage and may render it unusable. Attempting to repair your garage door springs yourself puts you at risk for serious harm. If you think your garage door springs need repair, it’s best to call a professional and have them inspect the damage. If you attempt to repair the garage door, you may cause further damage to your door, injure yourself, and violate the terms of your warranty.
From basic repairs to a complete overhaul, Doors by George is the company for your Cedar Rapids-area garage door repair and installation needs. Click below to request your free quote today!
