Is your garage door suddenly malfunctioning, and are you unsure what the underlying issue could be? The garage door springs could be the reason. These parts do all the heavy lifting every time you open and close the overhead garage door; when they fail, it can cause harm to the whole system. The bright side is that you don’t need to be skilled to identify the early signs. Read on for 9 unmistakable signs your garage door springs may be faulty and why you should do something quickly.
1. Your Springs Are Getting Close to 7-10 Years Old
Even if your garage door appears fine now, springs that are getting older are a disaster waiting to happen. Most garage door torsion springs last approximately 10,000 cycles, leading to about 7-10 years of usage patterns with regular use. If your garage door’s spring system is older than that or has not been serviced in a while, you should schedule a professional inspection. Companies like Wayne Dalton Garage Doors show this kind of proactive service as a suggestion to prevent any sudden failure and keep everything working smoothly.
2. An Unexpected, Loud Noise
One of the most common and alarming indicators of a broken spring is a loud noise from the garage, much like a firecracker. The noise occurs because the tension in the spring is tightly wound, and that tension is released all at once. Suppose you were not using the door when the loud bang occurred.
3. The Door Operates Crookedly or Unevenly
A properly functioning garage door opens and closes smoothly and evenly. When a spring breaks, the door’s balance is disrupted, causing one side to lift higher than the other. This imbalance stresses the door’s cables and tracking and may damage those parts. If your garage door opens crookedly or is jerky during operation, stop using it and have the spring replaced.
4. The Door Feels Incredibly Heavy to Lift
Springs are meant to balance out the garage door’s weight so you can easily open it with a couple of fingers. If your door suddenly feels extremely heavy or impossible to lift by hand, this is a good indication that the springs are no longer working. Trying to force the door open can result in an injury and could damage the opener or the door. If the lifting requires this much effort and there is too much strain on the motor already, better to let the pros handle it.
5. Torsion Spring Has a Visible Gap
Check the torsion spring that is located above your garage door. If there is any visible gap or space between the spring coils, it is most likely that the spring has broken in that location. Springs are extremely difficult to repair, and they need to be replaced in this scenario.
6. Abnormal Noises While Operating
Garage doors are never completely quiet but should not make grinding, screeching, or popping noises. This can indicate a damaged spring or that it is under extreme duress to a snap. If your garage door begins to make strange sounds while opening or closing, it would be in your best interest to have the door checked over for potential issues before they become a massive breakdown.
7. The Door Begins to open and then stops
Sometimes, a broken spring won’t block the door from moving entirely, but it will stop moving partway open. If your opener has the door started up on the lift, but it raises a few inches and then reverses or does not move forward, this most likely means the system is aware something is wrong. One feature of this system is the safety mechanism to prevent further damage or harm when the broken spring no longer supports the door.
8. The Door Closes Too Quickly
If your garage door is slamming shut quickly, it is likely a broken spring. When the springs are working, the door will gradually be controlled by lowering it to close. When the springs are broken, there is no balance to the weight, which causes the door to slam down when closing. This can be very dangerous if you have kids or pets. It is best to stop using the garage door until it can be repaired.
9. Your Garage Door Won’t Open
If your garage door won’t open, but your opener continues to work as it should, you most likely have a broken spring. Springs do the heaviest lifting, so without them, there is not enough strength for the door to rise. If you press the remote and nothing happens or it goes up only a few inches, you’ll want to have a technician check your springs.
Wrapping Up
Broken garage door springs can create severe damage, property damage, and major inconveniences. Knowing how to identify the signs of what to look for (noises, heavy doors, or uneven movement) can help save you from more significant issues by catching them earlier. If you think your springs may be getting worn or broken, do not try and repair it yourself and get a qualified garage door professional so you can get it fixed correctly and safely.
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