As with all mechanical equipment in the home, garage doors need regular service to ensure they continue to perform the way they were designed. Unfortunately, most homeowners are unaware that springs and other mechanical components on commercial doors or doors require occasional routine maintenance and safety checks.
To keep your garage door in top condition, you must lubricate and service the high-tension spring system, which is one of the most critical parts for safe and proper door operation. Torsion springs are also the most obvious culprits to look out for when having trouble opening or closing.
Torsion springs are retained under extremely high tension and are wound up with great force. It is because of this high tension that even the highest quality steel springs will wear out over time and eventually break. It is because of this possibility of sudden breakage that torsion springs must be contained to prevent serious injury or property damage. That containment is in the form of cables or, in the case of roll-up doors, an outer steel tube. Even if they are contained and you have an aged door, it is still a good idea to have them inspected periodically by a professional installer. The springs must be replaced if necessary.
Many overhead garage doors will have two separate springs installed. If only one is broken, don’t just replace it and not the other. Both springs should be replaced at the same time, even if the good one shows little sign of fatigue. You can bet your bottom dollar that if one has broken, the other won’t be far behind.
You may have a garage door where the springs squeal loudly or make a clicking sound when the door is raised or lowered. This does not necessarily mean that the springs or the door are on their last legs and need to be replaced. The problem can often be fixed by simply spraying on some lubricant, like WD-40, or something similar.
Another sign that your garage door needs inspection and repair is if there are worn and broken cable ties hanging loose. Regardless of the quality of the door, this is a sign that the wires are about to break. A sudden break in the garage door torsion spring cable could cause serious injury. These worn cables should be inspected and, in all likelihood, replaced by a professional service engineer who is knowledgeable about the problems associated with broken springs and cables.
Due to the large load they must lift, torsion springs are held under extreme tension, making them dangerous to adjust. If you find that the springs are preventing the door from working properly, do not attempt to repair them yourself.
It is good advice to schedule an annual maintenance inspection of your garage door by a registered service engineer. This will prevent the risk of possible injury and give you the peace of mind that the gate will work properly and safely at all times.
