Winters can be hard on hardware that’s exposed to the outdoors, and garage door springs are no exception. As one of the most important garage door parts, they compromise the safety of the garage door when broken. In Troy, Alabama, winters can have fluctuating temperatures that may impact your garage door springs.
When a garage door spring is broken, it’s likely that your garage door won’t be able to function properly. It may be that the door can’t open at all, opens partially, or moves slowly. To combat the possibility of a garage door spring breaking in the winter, we highly recommend that you carry out maintenance on your garage door. This can be instrumental in extending the springs’ lifespan and improving their functionality. Garage door springs are crucial to your garage door system and must be kept in great shape to function well.
Signs Your Springs May Snap
- Garage door only moves partially.
- Garage door is heavy to open manually.
- Garage door slams shut suddenly.
- Garage door won’t open.
- Garage door moves slowly.
- Garage door moves at an angle.
- Garage door makes abnormal grinding noises.
- Garage door has loose or fallen cables.
Why Do Garage Door Springs Snap?
Wear and Tear
Garage door springs take on the weight of the garage door as it’s moving. Thus, they’re susceptible to high amounts of wear and tear. Standard torsion springs have a lifespan of 10,000 cycles. A cycle is considered the garage door opening once and closing again. If you have a large family with multiple people using the garage door each day, the springs may last fewer than 5 years.
Neglected Maintenance
During a maintenance call, springs will be cleaned, tightened, and lubricated. This is important because of the wear and tear springs are put through. If you neglect maintenance, all your garage door parts will have a shorter lifespan.
Rust Build Up
Over time, it’s likely that rust will build up on garage door hardware. The rust will cause friction between the springs, which will make them easier to break. During a garage door tune-up, rust can be taken care of when the springs are cleaned.
Unbalanced Parts
It’s important that a garage door is properly balanced, as the door is extremely heavy. The springs and cables help to transfer weight and keep the door at equilibrium. If the balance is thrown off, it can harm the springs and cause them to take on extra weight.
Cold Weather
When temperatures drop, the cold air can make the springs brittle. This adds to the wear and tear, which can cause the springs to break. Cold weather can increase friction and compromise the spring’s ability to function. That’s why it’s especially important to schedule annual maintenance before cold weather sets in.
The Importance of Garage Door Spring Maintenance
Given that springs are crucial to your garage door but also susceptible to damage, it’s important that you take care of garage door spring maintenance. It’s really easy; all you have to do is schedule a garage door tune-up with your local garage door company!
What’s Included in a Garage Door Tune-Up?
- Door Balance Test: We’ll check that your garage door is properly balanced. If not, it signals that there’s an issue with the garage door springs.
- Lubricate Springs: Springs must be well-lubricated for the best functionality. This should also make your garage door less noisy.
- Thorough Inspection: Our trained eyes can catch issues that you may not be aware of. Through an examination of your garage door, we’ll ensure that all hardware is functioning correctly.
If you want to help with maintenance at home, we suggest that you keep an eye on your garage door hardware. Look out for any fallen or loose parts and keep your garage door clean. It’s also important that you listen for any abnormal sounds when your garage is moving, as this signals an issue.
Schedule Garage Door Spring Maintenance Near You
All Access Overhead Door, LLC is your local, family-owned business serving Troy, Goshen, and Enterprise AL, ready to provide you with garage door spring maintenance. We’re well-trained in handling garage door springs and will ensure your garage door is functioning at its best. Our team also offers garage door spring replacement for when you have a spring snap. Contact us today to schedule your garage door tune-up!
