A Spring Break in the Garage? Not Exactly What You Were Hoping For

Springs installer

Everyone loves to celebrate Spring Break until the spring that breaks is the one in your garage door. A sudden loud noise, like a gunshot, is heard coming from the garage causing your heart to pound. At first, you don’t see the cause, but when you try to open your garage door... you find the culprit. The unusual noises and the door not opening leads to an investigation. Uh oh. Your lifting spring has broken into two pieces!

You wonder what could have caused this to happen. Did you miss the warning signs? Well, give us a few minutes, and we will give you all the information about the lifting spring that you didn’t know, you didn’t know.

Your spring system is a critical component of your garage door!

Before we get into the issue, how about little background information to explain what the spring system is all about? For residential garage doors, there are two types:

  • EXTENSION SPRING

    Extension springs, located on either side of the door, over the horizontal tracks. As their name suggests, their coiled form “extends” to lower the garage door and compresses when opening it. A good quality garage door professional will install safety cables when installing extension springs. The safety cables are very important! If a spring breaks, the safety cable will stop the spring from flying off and hitting something or someone inside the garage. Both of which could be hitting potentially dangerous and/or expensive.

  • TORSION SPRING

    A torsion spring is placed in a steel tube over the head of the door, and the tube is solidly attached to the wall. This is done so that all the weight of the garage door is transferred to the anchor plate at its center. If the headroom over your door is insufficient, the plate may need to be placed at the end of the horizontal tracks. If this happens, it is called a low headroom or double horizontal track system.

You should also know that the spring system functions as a counterweight for the door. For example, a 9 x 7‑foot door with a row of windows has a total weight, or dead weight, of around 135 lbs (61 kilograms). In order for you to be able to lift this door with only one hand, its weight must be counterbalanced. That is where the spring system comes into play! A properly balanced garage door will only weigh between 8 and 10 lbs (3.5 to 4 kilograms) which is a much more manageable weight to handle.

Even if the door has an electric garage door opener, it still requires the counterbalanced spring system! A door opener is only meant to take the place of your manual effort, even if it is able to lift up to 200 lb (90 kilograms), it shouldn’t. Don’t forget, whether you have an electric opener or not, the weight of the door is pretty hefty. You don’t want to get caught under it when it is descending!

So, what causes a lifting spring to break?

There are several things that could cause your lifting spring to give up. Here are a few of the primary causes:

  • A Manufacturing Defect

    While it doesn’t happen often, it is possible.For extension springs, it would most likely be the ring at the end of the spring that breaks. For torsion springs, it would probably be a low quality galvanizing against rust that could cause the problem.

  • Improper Spring Calibration

    Every now and then, the correct spring system isn’t installed. While the door will still open and close properly, more stress will be placed on the spring, the door, and the opener. Springs are calibrated to operate correctly with a 5% variation, but a spring meant for a 100 lb door that is used on a 150 lb door will become a problem.

  • Improper Maintenance from the Homeowner

    Garage doors and their lifting systems require some upkeep. Garaga recommends twice‑yearly lubrication of any metal parts that come into contact with other ones. The first maintenance should be in the fall or winter when temperatures start dipping below 32°F (0°C), and the other should be when nighttime temperatures are above freezing.

  • Environmental Conditions

    Garages are rarely insulated or heated which basically leaves them cold and humid. However, even if it is climate controlled, the springs are usually near the exterior walls and remain cold and damp.Galvanization protects the springs and amounts for 30 to 40% of the spring’s composition, but rust will still attack the metal. Also, in intense cold, under -15F (-26F), the coiled metal wire can dry out and break.

  • Wear and Tear

    While a spring’s only job is torsion and extension, it still has a limited lifespan which is somewhere between 5 and 7 years. A large number of garage door manufacturers provide 10,000‑cycle spring systems. A cycle is defined as one opening and closing of the door. So, a 10,000‑cycle spring will allow you to open and close your door nearly four times per day for seven years! If you use your garage door more than 5 times a day, you may want to consider a 20 to 25,000‑cycle springs which are available from some manufacturers.

Do you want to lengthen the lifespan of your spring system?

Lubricate the springs at least once per year, but twice would be better! It is a simple process. Just use a petroleum‑based oil, like the 10w30 motor oil you use in your car and apply it liberally around the coils with a soft cloth. Wipe off any excess, and you’re done! This will help get rid of the irritating clinking sound the springs make when they stretch and release. A word to the wise: never use WD‑40 as it is a degreaser and not made for lubricating metal parts. Garaga dealers carry the lubricants you’ll need that are specially made for garage doors.

Don’t have time for maintenance? Call in the professionals!

Feel free to contact us. We know garage doors better than anyone else, and we will be able to advise and explain the best choice to make based on your exact needs while also respecting your budget. If you prefer, we can send you a quotation by email.

Another option is to meet us at our showroom! If you are looking to upgrade your garage door, use our Design Centre to help you choose a style that best fits your home. You can also peruse our image gallery for lots of style ideas.

If you don’t have time to maintain your garage door yourself, let us help. We provide a “Garage Door Tune‑up” program. It is similar to what a car dealer offers for your car to help you avoid problems before winter arrives.

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