You may be asking if you can open a garage door with a broken spring. The answer is determined by the type of garage door and the sort of spring that has to be replaced.
There are two types of springs used in garage doors: torsion springs and extension springs. Torsion springs are located above the garage door opening, while extension springs are located on each side of the garage door opening.
If your garage door has torsion springs, do not try to open it if a spring is broken. The tension in the spring might cause serious injury or damage. If your garage door has extension springs, you could maybe open it with a broken spring—but we wouldn’t recommend it. There’s too much risk that the tension will make the garage door slam shut and injure someone nearby.
What Are Garage Door Extension Springs?
An extension spring is a type of garage door spring that is located on both sides of the garage door. These springs allow your door to open and shut smoothly. Extension springs are under a lot of strain, so if one breaks, it can be dramatic.
What Are Garage Door Torsion Springs?
Torsion springs are above your garage door. These springs help to balance the weight of your door and give it momentum. If one of these springs fails, the garage door will become extremely heavy and may fall, posing a serious risk of injury or damage.
What Is the Difference Between Extension and Torsion Springs?
An extension spring is located on both sides of your garage door, while a torsion spring sits above the door. Torsion springs help to make the door lighter and easier to open.
Torsion springs are like twisting a wet rag to get all of the water out. They tighten as they move through means of rotation. Extension springs, on the other hand, can be thought of as an accordion. They both load and unload in order to make it easy open or close the door, though they do so in different ways.
How Come Springs Break?
The steel in the springs can weaken and snap over time. They can also break if they are not properly lubricated, or if there is too much weight on the door. Many times, especially in areas that experience extreme weather, rust forms on the springs and corrodes them over time. If you’re someone who likes to leave your door open while you’re home, you might experience this more than other people.
Why Are Springs Dangerous?
Since the springs are subject to such high tension, they can be very dangerous if they break. Usually, when a garage door spring breaks it is because it was overloaded beyond its capacity. This can cause the spring to snap, which can pose a serious safety hazard.
When one garage door spring breaks, it can shatter and cause significant damage. Parts might fly throughout the garage and harm objects stored inside your garages, such as your car windows or windshield. To avoid injury, always keep your fingers away from the springs.
How Much Do New Extension and Torsion Springs Cost?
The cost of garage door springs will vary depending on the type of spring, the size of the spring, and the length of the spring. Torsion springs are typically more expensive than extension springs. The size and length of the spring will also affect the cost. You’ll want to contact a local garage door repair company, like Overhead Door Company of Puget Sound, to get an estimate on parts and labor for your broken garage door.
Why Should I Hire a Professional Garage Door Repair Company?
Oftentimes, it is smarter to let a professional handle garage door spring replacement as opposed to attempting it yourself. This is because professionals have both the experience and resources needed to correctly carry out the process while also being able to identify any issues you may be having with your doors.
While you may not like the idea of paying someone to do the work for you, you might end up costing yourself more money in the long run if you mess up the repair job or get injured during the repair process.
If you need immediate spring repairs, there are many companies that offer 24/7 emergency garage door spring repair services. We hope this gives you some piece of mind knowing you can call for assistance at any time.
How Can I Prevent My Garage Door Springs From Breaking?
You can avoid your garage door springs from breaking by taking a few preventative measures. First, ensure that they are well-lubricated using either a silicone-based spray lubricant or lithium-based grease. Apply the lubricant to the springs monthly.
When Should I Replace My Garage Door Springs?
If your garage door springs break, you should hire a garage door technician to replace them immediately. If you try to open your door with a broken spring, the door might come crashing down and injure someone. You can open a garage door manually, but garage doors and garage door systems are extremely heavy. Opening the garage door manually may not be an option for you, especially if you have custom wooden garage doors.
The springs on your garage door are generally good for seven to nine years if you use them on a regular basis. However, that timeline varies significantly based on factors such as frequency of usage, climate, and quality of garage door components.
How Do I Replace a Broken Garage Door Spring?
To repair a garage door with a broken spring, you will need tools, proper safety equipment, a ladder, and a lot of know-how. We’ll give you some basic step-by-step instructions here, but you should always conduct your own research and consult with professionals before attempting any repairs on your own.
Also, if you decide to fix your garage door yourself, be sure to use all of the required safety equipment and carefully follow repair instructions.
1. Begin by unplugging the garage door opener from the wall. This will prevent the door from trying to open or close while you work on it. It’s also important to disconnect the opener so you aren’t running the risk of electrocution.
2. Next, open the door manually and use the lever on your garage door to lock it open so that it is even with the ground. With the door propped open, you can take off the old springs and prepare to install the new ones.
3. To remove the old springs, use a socket wrench to loosen the bolts on either side of the broken spring. Once they are loose, carefully remove the old spring by disconnecting the rod from its brackets and slowly pulling it out. It’s especially important that you wear protective eyewear and gear during this step.
4. After the old springs have been removed, you’ll need to install the new ones. To do this, connect the rod to the brackets that will support the spring. Install the brackets and springs after connecting the rod. Make sure your new springs are adjusted to equalize them with your old springs. Your door will not operate properly if you don’t do this.
5. Finally, connect the garage door opener to the garage door and test it out to ensure that it is working properly. Test the door using a remote garage door opener at a distance to ensure that you can safely open and close it. You may then reinstall the door once everything is in order.
Garage doors, garage door systems, and garage door springs can cause serious bodily injury to you or your loved ones if not installed properly. This isn’t a job that should be taken lightly.
When dealing with fractured garage door springs, exercise extreme caution. Remember that a torsion spring or extension spring might be under a lot of tension. If you’re not sure about your abilities, we recommend hiring specialists to do this work for you, such as those at Overhead Door Company of Puget Sound. They’ve spent over 100 years in the garage door business, and they’ll repair your broken garage door right.
Other Very Common Garage Door System Issues
If your garage door isn’t functioning properly, it may be due to a broken spring. However, there are a few other common issues that you should be aware of with residential garage doors:
A Malfunctioning Garage Door Opener
Your opener might not be working right for a variety of reasons, such as a tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse. Another potential problem could lie with the sensors. One thing you can try is wiping down and aligning the sensors located at the bottom of the garage door opening on either side of the door. If they are out of alignment, your garage door might not open or close all the way because the sensors think that something is in the way.
Damaged Panels
Garage door panels can become damaged due to weather damage, normal wear and tear, or an accident. If this happens, you will need to replace them. They can impact the functioning of the garage door by getting in the way of the door jam on the way up, or by creating a kink in the door.
A Garage Door That Won’t Stay on Track
With a steel rolling door, a loose roller or dented track is the most common cause of a rattling door. However, it can also happen when something is blocking the door’s path, like debris or a toy. To remedy this issue, you’ll first want to assess if there is something in the way, or if something is actually broken.
If the metal track itself is bent, you’ll have to consider bending it back or replacing it. If there is debris in the tracks, make sure the garage door is securely raised or lowered, and then carefully remove the debris and wipe down the tracks.
A Noisy Garage Door
If your door is making a lot of noise, there’s a good chance it’s due to loose or worn-out hardware. It could also be caused by the tracks not being properly lubricated. The simple solution to this problem is to buy a lubricant at your local hardware store and grease the wheels and hardware. This should fix the problem in most cases. However, if the noise persists, you might be looking at an issue where, again, there is debris lodged somewhere in the track, or the track might be out of alignment.
Overhead Door Company of Puget Sound is the area’s leading garage door provider. They provide a wide range of services, including garage door repair, installation, and maintenance. For a free consultation about your garage door issues, contact them now.
Get Your Garage Door Springs Repaired or Replaced Today!
There are many reasons why garage door springs might break, but the primary one is age and usage. If you have a broken extension spring or torsion spring, you should replace it immediately. Trying to open a garage door with either a broken torsion or extension spring can be difficult and dangerous.You may repair the springs on your garage doors yourself, but it’s usually a better idea to call a professional. This is because pros have the know-how and equipment to do the task correctly and safely. Professionals can also assist you with any others concerns that you may be having with your door. For quick, reliable, and affordable garage door spring repair or replacement, contact Overhead Door Company of Puget Sound today.
