What Happens if a Garage Door Spring Breaks?
A functional garage door is essential for the overall safety of a home. They are often opened and closed in the course of parking cars and storing items such as tools and bicycles. It’s essential to have a properly working garage door to ensure that these items are safely stored.
If the garage door is damaged, it can affect the functionality of the whole house. A common issue many garage owners encounter is a broken spring. This article explains everything there is to know about the issue.
Why do garage door springs break?
Like other parts of a house, garage door springs come with a finite lifespan. However, if the garage door installation company uses lower-quality springs on a garage door, it might further impact the lifespan.
A torsion springs’ lifespan depends on garage door use and the number of cycles it can handle before it wears out. A cycle is defined as the number of turns of the coil. Low-quality springs last around 7,500 cycles and should be replaced every few years, while high-quality ones can have up to 10,000 cycles and can last up to 15 years.
Reasons that can affect the spring lifespan include:
Wear and tear
Most people use garage doors at least twice each day. The more residents in a house, the more the door is opened and closed and the higher the number of cycles used a day. Homeowners with kids who use the garage door more often reach the 7,500 limits much faster.
Rust
Garage door springs are metal and eventually rust over time. The sooner the rust develops in the spring, the shorter its lifespan. The rust can weaken the coiled spring and increase the amount of friction.
It’s best to spray the springs with WD-40 each year to slow the process.
Lack of maintenance
Besides spraying the springs with WD-40, checking the garage door balance every year is also advisable. You can do so by lifting the garage door halfway, then let go. Properly working springs will keep the door still. If the springs are not working correctly, the door may fall or sag.
Here is what else happens when the garage door spring breaks:
Door cables appear broken
If the door cables disconnect or appear detached, it may signify a broken spring. The garage door may only open a few inches and seem blocked from further movement. This blockage is the safety feature and prevents the door from opening due to broken springs.
Loud noise
Broken springs often cause a loud noise in the garage. The sound comes from the spring unwinding and making a crushing sound inside the mechanism.
A gap in the torsion spring
If there’s a few inches gap in the middle of the torsion spring, it’s a clear sign the spring is damaged.
The top of the door is bent
Certain garage doors bend at the top when there is a broken spring. This is because the door tries to lift without the spring’s help, and the weight put on the mechanism causes the bending issue.
Jerky garage door movements
Jerky garage door movements are typically caused by one broken spring in a two-spring system. If this is the case, the mechanism can still handle lifting the door but can’t lift it smoothly.
Handling broken garage door springs
Homeowners can recognize broken garage springs in many ways. If you hear a loud noise from the garage, the cables appear broken, or the door stops moving as smoothly, it could mean the springs are broken.
It’s best to contact professional garage door service providers to inspect the issue and avoid additional damage. They can fix the door with the appropriate safety measures and install the right spring type for your garage door.
Phoenician Garage Door & Repair offers full-service garage installation, repair and maintenance in Maricopa County. Emergency service available. We are licensed, bonded, and insured. Call (602) 610-0112
