High Tech Garage Doors

Posted on: 16 December 2022

Garage doors rely on their springs to provide the energy necessary to lift the door back into its retracted position. When you lower your door, the torsion springs wind up to store energy, essentially acting like a battery for later. You release this energy when you lift the door, making it much easier to lift your heavy garage door.

Unfortunately, torsion spring failures are a relatively common issue, and they can lead to some frustrating problems. Addressing weak torsion springs is crucial to keeping your door operating correctly and safely, so it can pay to understand why they fail and what you should do about this problem.

Recognizing the Signs of Torsion Spring Failure

Torsion springs contain a great deal of energy, but the good news is that they don't often fail catastrophically. Instead, it's more common for the springs to lose tension over time, slowly storing less energy and causing your garage door to function poorly. You can often notice some warning signs long before your door stops working.

Pay particular attention to the effort required to open and close your door. When opening the door automatically, listen for signs of the motor struggling or unusual noises from the door itself. A weak or sagging spring may cause the door to lift unevenly, so you may notice jerky movement or the door "catching" at certain points along its travel.

You can also try lifting the door manually, which should be relatively easy. If it's extremely difficult to lift, that's a good sign that your torsion springs no longer have enough tension to store the energy needed to lift the door. Note that you shouldn't attempt to inspect or adjust the springs yourself since they can be extremely dangerous.

Addressing Weak Torsion Springs

Torsion springs typically only fail for a few reasons. Age is the most common culprit, with the springs simply stretching and wearing out over time. However, certain situations can cause springs to fail more quickly. For example, insufficient lubrication can cause the springs to wear out more quickly, as can unusually heavy usage.

Once you notice a problem with your garage door springs, you must contact a professional to evaluate and repair them. Torsion springs store enormous amounts of energy, making dealing with them incredibly dangerous. An expert will also be able to check your garage door for other issues, ensuring that your new springs don't fail prematurely.

For more information on garage door repair, contact a professional near you.