The garage represents one of the most prominent features at home. The importance of maintaining the garage to keep it functioning efficiently could not be emphasized further. It plays a crucial role at home, requiring your attention just like other essential features of your house. There are numerous moving parts that are involved in the opening and closing of the garage door.
In that case, you may want to take the smartest approach whenever you are dealing with garage door issues. If you are experiencing problems with the garage door springs, here are useful tips to help you fix the problem and enjoy great functionality.
What are garage door springs?
You can think of the garage door as an instrument that requires many parts to work together in harmony to produce a sweet sound. Just like a musical instrument, springs are a vital component of the garage door.
They play a remarkable role that involves counteracting the gravitational force on the door particularly when it is being opened. This implies that the main purpose of the springs is to make the garage door light enough for an easy opening through manual or automated lifting. The two common types of garage door springs include extension springs and torsion springs:
– Extension springs
Extension springs can be found mounted just above the track of the garage door. In other cases, they may be mounted on the sides of the garage door. These springs work by using the spring-pulling force to pull up the garage door against gravity when the door is being opened.
– Torsion springs
These are located directly above the garage door. In some old homes, however, you can find the torsion springs mounted in the rear of the garage door. The correct installation of torsion springs makes the garage door balanced. Properly balanced garage doors are easy to handle as they do not require much force when lifting.
What Causes Springs Go Bad
It is essential to know that springs wear out over time. For instance, torsion springs are expected to function effectively for up to 4 years. It is essential to ensure that you get the right springs when making a purchase. You can talk to experts for garage door repair in Richmond if you do not know much about original springs.
After the first installation of the springs, it is paramount to have them adjusted within the first couple of years. When you install the springs in the cold seasons, you will have to rebalance them sooner. Springs that need rebalancing are considered to be bad. However, the ones with just a little tension are not considered bad.
Determining the condition of the springs
The first test you can do to determine whether the door spring is failing involves releasing the garage door from its opener (up position) to see if it will maintain the up position. A slight movement should not be a reason to panic. However, you should check to ensure that neither of the bottom rollers moves past the line between both the horizontal and vertical tracks. If the rollers go past the line, your torsion springs are failing and need immediate replacement. The second test involves pulling your garage door to the mid-level position. If the door does not maintain its position, it is an indication that the springs are bad.
When your springs are failing, you should refrain from DIY repair activities. This is because there have been cases of severe injuries according to the survey. The most effective solution for handling defective garage door springs is making a replacement. This will keep the other components of the garage door functioning effectively for a longer time. However, if you do not do anything about the springs, it will affect other parts of the garage door and render it ineffective.