2. Using the Correct Springs

It’s difficult to determine which springs are the correct ones for your garage door just by looking at them. 

Even professionals with years of experience find it challenging to make sure they select the correct springs. There are a variety of measurements that need to be taken in order to find the appropriate replacement springs. Different springs that are the same length could have different diameters, weights or strengths. 

Using the correct parts is crucial. Using the wrong parts or incorrect tools can put too much tension on springs, causing them to wear out quickly, resulting in your door breaking or falling through. Using the wrong springs while you attempt to do a quick DIY repair could cause you to end up in the hospital.

3. Garage Door Spring Installation

Installing garage door springs is an art. There is a lot at stake if even one thing goes wrong when you are trying to fix it yourself. 

In addition to choosing the correct springs and using the proper tools, springs have to be calibrated carefully to ensure that the door movement is even and smooth. 

If the calibration is off, jerky movements could damage your opener tracks and garage door. If you damage an expensive door by improperly installing garage springs, it could result in hundreds of dollars of repair bills, making your garage door spring replacement more expensive than it should be.

 Save Time and Money – Call A Garage Door Specialist First

Inevitably, when many DIYers try replacing garage door springs, they end up having to call in the help of a service professional because it really is a harder task than imagined. 

Maybe you won’t get injured, but you’ll probably end up wasting time running to the home improvement store repeatedly, only to find you can’t complete the job. Save time and headaches – call on a professional service technician when your garage door springs need replacing.

Still have questions on how your garage door spring works? Need insight into the inner workings of your garage door? Next, we’ll take a look at how garage door springs are repaired (and remember, this is NOT a DIY project).

A Short Guide to Garage Door Spring Repair

The spring is one of the most important parts of any garage door, and when it breaks, it can be a big problem. Without a functional torsion spring, opening and closing the door can become difficult to impossible. 

Fortunately, there are ways to tell when the torsion spring is in trouble. With careful observation and by being proactive, you can get help from a professional before the situation becomes dire. 

Here’s what you need to know.

What Does the Garage Door Spring Do?

Typical garage doors weigh between 130 and 350 pounds. For any normal adult, lifting a small door can be a challenge, and lifting a large, heavy door can be nearly impossible. That’s why the spring, also called the torsion spring, is important. The spring over your door counteracts the forces of gravity to make lifting the door easier.

For an automatic garage door, the spring lightens the load on the motor and reduces wear and tear on the unit. If you’re lifting the door manually, the torsion spring reduces pressure on your back and helps prevent injuries. 

In the event of a power outage, when the automatic garage door opener may not be working, the spring makes moving the door possible.

What Are the Signs You Need Garage Door Spring Repair?

If the torsion spring suffers damage, you’ll notice problems like:

• Spring is rusted or has corrosion on it
• The door is harder to lift than it used to be
• The garage door opener closes faster than it used to
• The spring is sagging in the middle

Trouble with the spring can happen because of general wear and tear, or because of problems like leaks, causing the spring to rust or become corroded.

How Can You Keep Your Garage Door Spring in Good Condition?

You can keep your torsion spring in good condition by getting it serviced at least once annually by a garage door repair person. During your annual tune-up, your garage door contractor will inspect the spring, oil it if needed, and suggest repairs if repairs are warranted.

What Happens When Your Garage Door Spring Breaks?

Torsion springs are under high pressure, and when they break, parts of the spring may shoot across the garage and cause serious injuries or property damage. It’s important to get your garage door spring repaired at the first signs that it’s in trouble.

Have a Broken Garage Door Spring? Contact the Pros

Overhead Door Company of Wilmington fixes and maintains garage door springs in and around the Wilmington area. If your spring is showing signs of wear and tear, contact us today to set up an appointment for garage door maintenance.

We’ve already reviewed how garage door springs can cause a safety hazard if you try to repair them on your own. Following, we’ll outline some more reasons why trusting a professional is crucial to completing any type of garage door repair.

For Garage Door Repair, Trust a Professional

Not only does a garage door keep your car safe, but it also adds an extra level of protection for the rest of your home. Designed with aesthetic appeal, most garage doors also boost the home’s exterior décor. 

As is common with most large structures, over time, garage doors are susceptible to breakdowns, causing an inconvenience or posing a serious danger to people and property.

If your garage door is malfunctioning, call a professional right away. Remember, the key word here is a “professional” garage door repair expert.

Consult with a garage door professional for:

Safety

Garage door repairs can be an overwhelming and risky task depending on the type of repair needed. Think about it, garage doors are huge, heavy and supported by chain or spring drive mechanisms. 

Without the proper knowledge, you could be risking your life by trying to handle repairs on your own.

Take, for example, a broken tension cable or spring. Either could easily hit you with enough force to cause serious injuries. Plus, you could be held liable for such injuries as a homeowner if the individual carrying out your repairs isn’t covered by liability insurance.

Professional garage door repair companies ensure optimal working conditions are maintained as they work on your repairs. They also have the necessary liability insurance to cover injuries or property damage resulting from their work.

Experience and Expertise

Experience is key when handling garage door repairs, as some situations may pose complicated challenges along the way. When such challenges arise, most experienced professionals have likely come across them before and know how to tackle them.

RELATED: How Much Does Garage Door Repair Cost?

Professionals also have the training, tools and necessary resources to handle your repairs in time and ensure safety. With a professional, your repairs will be done right the first time and you don’t have to worry about costly fees associated with non-professional callback repairs.

Warranty

Many professional companies back their work up with a warranty. With a warranty, you are assured that even if your door breaks down or malfunctions again within a specified time period, a professional will come back and fix the problem for free.

Quality Parts

Professionals rely on quality parts to ensure their work maintains a certain standard. This is an added advantage for you to help prolong your door’s lifespan and minimize the need for constant repairs. Hiring a professional and having them use quality materials may look expensive in the short term, but in the long term, it’s a huge cost savings versus frequent replacements.

Avoiding Additional Damage

No matter how good you are at DIY projects, when it comes to garage doors, leave it to the professionals. Addressing repairs without completely identifying the root cause of the problem will only result in a temporary fix, or worse, additional damage.

RELATED: 4 Reasons You Might Be Having a Garage Door Problem

If your garage door is malfunctioning or broken down, contact us right away. We guarantee you professional workmanship and competitive pricing like no other!

FAQs

Why should I hire a professional for garage door repairs?

Hiring a professional is crucial because garage door repairs can be dangerous due to the size and weight of the door, and professionals have the expertise to ensure safety.

What’s the importance of experience in garage door repairs?

Experience matters because it helps professionals handle complex issues efficiently and minimizes the risk of costly callback repairs.

Do professional garage door repair companies offer warranties?

Yes, many professional companies provide warranties on their work, ensuring free repairs within a specified time if issues arise.

Why is using quality parts essential in garage door repairs?

Quality parts used by professionals enhance your door’s lifespan and reduce the need for frequent repairs, saving you money in the long run.

Why should I avoid DIY repairs for my garage door?

DIY repairs can lead to temporary fixes or additional damage, making it essential to leave garage door repairs to the professionals.

Thinking of DIY Garage Opener Installation? Think Again!

DIY garage opener installation can be problematic for many reasons. Unless you’re a trained garage door contractor, there are many ways that you could run into trouble trying to perform this type of home improvement on your own.

We’ll list a few of them below.

It Takes Longer

DIY garage door opener installation takes a professional contractor around 3 or 4 hours, depending on the type of garage door opener being installed, the condition of your door and other factors. 

It could take you much longer – 6 hours or more, depending on whether you have the right tools, are comfortable making changes to your home and know what procedure to follow.

It Requires Skill

Installing a garage door opener is not as straightforward as replacing a curtain rod, or painting a room, or doing many of the other DIY projects that people frequently take on in their home. 

Unless you have basic training in electrical contracting and mechanical systems installation, you may struggle to properly install your garage opener.

You May Need More Than One Person

Installing a garage door opener can be extra challenging if you’re doing it on your own. If you don’t have sufficient help, it’s better to hire a contractor to do the work than it is to do the work on your own and risk injury or breaking the garage opener.

Door Needs Adjustment

It’s important that your garage door functions properly before your garage door opener is installed. Imbalance in the door and other problems can put a burden on your garage door opener, shortening its service life. 

Unless you’re able to rebalance your garage door on your own, you’ll need to hire a contractor anyway to service your door.

The Savings Are Not That Great

All in all, you won’t save that much money by installing the garage door opener yourself – especially if you have to pay to get the door balanced or pay to make repairs (if the installation doesn’t go very well).

Installing a New Garage Opener? Contact Overhead Door Company of Wilmington

Why stress over the installation of your new garage opener? Get it professionally installed and you’ll never have to worry about whether it was done correctly. 

Call Overhead Door Company of Wilmington today to get a quote for your upcoming garage installation.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s very dangerous to tackle garage door repairs and installation by yourself. Doing so could result in serious injuries and/or damage to the garage door.
• Garage door spring replacement requires the services of a professional because it requires precise measurements. Using the wrong ones can damage the door or cause it to fail.
• Your garage door spring may be failing if you notice:
  • Rust
  • Sagging
  • Difficulty lifting the door
  • The door is closing too quickly
• Remember that hiring a professional means they will use durable parts and have the backing of a warranty on the work. 
• Solo DIY work is impractical and unsafe, particularly when installing a garage door.
• Cost savings are minimal on trying to DIY after you factor in tools, time, and potential mistakes or needed repairs.

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Sources: 

UL Standards and Engagement, “Automatic Garage Door Standards: Helping to Keep Families Safe,” https://ulse.org/standards-and-engagement/standards-matter/automatic-garage-door-standards-helping-keep