7 Signs Your Garage Door Springs May Be Failing

Your garage door is nothing without the springs. If you think of the door as the body, then the springs play the muscles’ role, responsible for lifting the garage door and keeping it functional.

You must therefore ensure that the springs are in the best shape at all times. Otherwise, you will experience a hard time opening and closing the garage door.

The best way to ensure this is through regular garage door springs inspection. However, some failure indicators are not as obvious. Everything may look fine, and unless you pay more attention to the garage door and springs functionality; you may never tell that something is off.

Spotting the potential signs that your garage door springs are failing early enough is the secret to saving both money and time. It helps you prevent or rectify the issue before it gets out of hand, thus saving you the repair or replacement cost and time.

Here are the top 7 signs your garage door springs may be falling.

1. Jerking When Opening or Closing the Door

The first sign that it is time to replace the door springs is if the door jerks when opening or closing. When the springs are in their best shape, you will offer a smooth opening and closing experience, especially in the case of garage door extension springs.

The springs offer a pulling force that allows the door to open and close effortlessly, but that is not the case if they are broken. If you realize that the garage door is catching when you push it up or down, the chances are that the springs are failing.

However, the issue could result from other door component failures such as belts, pulleys, and rollers. It is therefore advisable that you let a garage door professional to inspect the entire door before concluding.

2. Uneven Opening

Besides jerking, you may notice that the garage door no longer opens evenly. When you try to open or close the door, you will notice that one side is letting the other down. It either opens faster or slower than the other side, making the door to be crooked.

Such is a potential sign that the springs are weakening and need repair or replacement.

Nonetheless, let professionals check the garage door to ensure that there are no other underlying issues before doing the replacement. Ensure that you get reliable torsion springs from a reliable provider such as https://diy-garage-door-parts.com/for-sale/garage-door-springs/torsion-springs/, to avoid such problems in the future.

3. The Garage Door Feels Heavier

The garage door torsion springs are meant to lift the door’s weight and make things easier for users. If you notice that the door is heavier than usual, that could be a sign that you need to schedule for garage door spring repair.

The expert service provider should inspect the door to ensure that all the other components are functioning as they should. If everything else is in its right state, it shows that the springs are broken, making the door to become dead weight.

4. Garage Door Does Not Open To Its Maximum

The garage door springs support the weight of the door. In the case of a broken garage door spring, your door will have a hard time trying to open to its maximum.

While you can still open the door and go on with your normal business, it is most likely to open up to six inches. This will most definitely limit your activities.

Note that there are cases where failure to open is a result of safety system triggers. You, therefore, need to check the sensors first to determine the root cause.

5. If You Notice Unusual Noise

Another obvious sign that something is off with the garage door springs is hearing weird or unusual sounds when opening or closing the door.

These noises may be groans or screeches that were not there before. The weird noise indicates that the springs are stretching out more than they should or are broken.

You may try to manage the issue by adding lubricant. If this does not work, it is time for a replacement.

6. Visual Damages

Sometimes, the sign is right in front of you. But unless you are keen enough to inspect the springs regularly, you may never notice it until things are already out of hand.

The garage door springs are made of one or more springs tightly wounded over the door. Upon breaking, the springs unwind, leaving a visible gap.

If you notice a gap between the torsion springs that was not there during installation, contact a repair and replacement professional immediately.

As tempting as it is, you should not attempt to do a DIY rectification, as that will only make things worse.

Besides the gap, another visible sign that the garage door extension springs are failing includes rust. This is likely to happen if the springs are more than 10 years old, and it is an indication that they are past their recommended lifespan. Have them replaced before they make the garage inaccessible since once they break, you cannot open the door to get in or out.

7. The Door Falls or Completely Fails To Open

If the door falls or fails to open, the problem is most probably originating from the springs.

The springs enable you to pull the door and close it slowly and safely. If they are broken, the door will fall faster than usual and easily lead to an accident.

If the door opens and stops after reaching a particular height, the springs could be broken. Make sure that you contact an expert for immediate assistance.