Ideally, garage doors should be checked at least every three to six months, or more if these are used frequently or in extreme environments. This will ensure that the garage door operates smoothly and that potential problems are identified and solved before they worsen.
One of the garage door components that you shouldn't forget to check is its springs. In most cases, when the garage door isn't working properly, the main cause would be the springs. Either these need to be entirely replaced or they ought to be repaired.
What exactly do these springs do?
The primary function of garage door springs is to counteract the force of gravity on the door. These springs help make the garage door lighter to lift up, either manually or for the garage door's motor.
Most of the springs used in garage doors are torsion and extension springs. Torsion springs are typically installed above the door or the rear of the garage. A properly functioning torsion spring balances the door. This means closing and opening the garage door will require an equal amount of pressure.
Extension springs, on the other hand, can be found on top of the garage door track. These may sometimes be mounted on the sides.
How do you know something's wrong with the springs?
On average, torsion springs last up to 9 years. That is assuming that the garage door undergoes 10,000 cycles at four cycles a day. If the garage door is used heavily, the springs may last for four to six years. Typically, springs need to be rebalanced every two years after installation. However, garage doors installed during the cooler months may need to be rebalanced sooner than garage doors installed during the warmer months.
It's quite normal for torsion springs to lose some tension over time. There are two steps you need to undertake in order to determine whether you need to have the springs rebalanced.
1. Let the door rest in the “up” position after releasing the opener. Ideally, none of the bottom rollers should move past the line between the horizontal and vertical tracks. Some movement is to be expected, but if either of the rollers moves beyond the line, that means that the springs need to be repaired or re-torsioned.
2. Pull the door up to the middle position. The door should just rest in that position.
If you have a garage door, it's possible that the springs used were of the wrong size. If the door is heavy and the springs are older than four years, you may need to replace the springs.
Extension springs can last up to nine years. Unlike torsion springs, extension springs don't fail or break. Instead, you'll simply see gaps between the coils — a sign that they need replacement.
Replacing garage door springs
The replacement of garage door springs is a job that is best left to the professionals. It's not a DIY project you can simply do over the weekend. There have been documented cases of people who have been hurt or even killed for attempting to repair or replace garage door springs.
Call in the most trusted garage door services in Australia to help you do the job.