Garage door springs have a life cycle of anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 uses. Considering the average garage door is raised and lowered an average of 3 times per day, that’s roughly 5 to 10 years of use. They will wear out. When’s the last time you’ve had the garage door springs repaired or changed? If you can’t remember or it hasn’t been this decade, you might want to call a professional for an inspection. Springs are not a DIY garage door repair.
Never Repair Garage Door Springs Yourself
You can thank your garage door springs for how easy it is to raise and lower your door. It’s easy to forget that your door actually weighs in at close to 200 pounds. In order to make that weight seem light, your springs are under an incredible amount of tension. If they should suddenly snap, they can cause serious bodily damage that could send you to the emergency room. Always have your springs repaired and installed by a professional. They have the tools and expertise to do the job safely and effectively. Springs are never garage door repair DIY.
Visual Inspection
You should visually inspect the springs every six months or so for rust, fraying or other visual damage. If the springs look old, call a professional for an inspection. Again, never handle or adjust the springs yourself.
The Two Main Types of Garage Door Springs
There are two main types of springs involved in the installation, operation, and repair of garage doors — extension springs and torsion springs.
Torsion springs are the most common type of garage door spring. Unlike extension springs that use extension to provide lifting power to the garage door, torsion springs use torque. The advantage of torsion springs is they are sturdier and tend to last longer than extension springs.
Extension springs run along the upper horizontal tracks of the garage door. As the springs are extended, they form a counterbalance that provides the lifting motion of the garage door.