How Long Do Garage Door Tension Springs Last?
How Long Do Garage Door Tension Springs Last?
If your home is equipped with a garage door, you probably know that these installations open and close thanks to springs. Garage doors move thousands of times each year, but how often do you inspect components for proper function? The springs that make up your assembly are vital for operation, but it is important to understand these parts can become dangerous with wear and tear.
Hunter Door is a leader in garage door installation and repair services across South Jersey, and we want our customers to recognize the warning signs when springs are in need of replacement. The average life expectancy of tension springs is anywhere between five and seven years, but you can prevent accidents and garage door downtime by knowing exactly when to contact a professional.
Types of Springs for Garage Doors
Standard garage door setups contain torsion springs and expansion springs. Torsion springs are usually located directly above garage doors on inside walls where they balance the weight of the attachment. If you have ever lifted a garage door by hand, these are the springs that make it easy to guide the fixture to the open or closed position.
Expansion springs attach to garage door tracks and are primarily responsible for raising and lowering both sides of the door. When the expansion springs are in working order, your setup will look level as it slowly makes contact with the ground.
How Do Garage Door Springs Break?
Both torsion and expansion springs experience wear and tear through use, age and exposure to wet conditions. On average, you can expect a set of springs to withstand about 10,000 cycles of opening and closing. However, homeowners use garages for different applications, so the speed at which your components deteriorate is dependent on how often you use them as well as your environment.
Someone who uses a garage door only occasionally could have springs last for over a decade as long as they’re free from rust. This window for replacement quickly shrinks when you use garages for entryways, workshops and more.
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When to Replace Garage Door Springs
For safety reasons, garage door springs should be replaced only by a professional, but you can perform a series of tests to evaluate their strength and condition. One of the most common indicators your springs have seen better days is the garage door will not open or close on command. If you find yourself in this scenario, it is best to call a local expert immediately.
For garage doors in working condition, test torsion springs by deactivating the automatic opener and trying to lift the door using your hands. Open the door completely and see if the assembly stays open without your help. If the door begins to slip to a downward position, your springs are worn.
A second test for torsion springs involves opening your garage door halfway (using your hands) and feeling how much weight is supported by the springs. Homeowners can check expansion springs by looking for gaps in spring coils and ensuring both sides of the door open and close at the same speed.
Garage Door Spring Repair in South Jersey
Hunter Door specializes in garage door repair services across South Jersey. Our team channels over 45 years of experience to bring you solutions for worn springs, broken cables and pulleys for the safety of you and your family. We bring you long-lasting and dependable options to help you get the most out of your investment.
For more information about our garage doors, openers or maintenance services, be sure to fill out a contact form with Hunter Door today!
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5 Signs Your Garage Door Needs a Repair
5 Signs Your Garage Door Needs a Repair
Most homeowners use their garage doors more often than their front doors to enter their homes, so keeping your garage door functioning properly is essential for your daily convenience. With regular daily use, it’s normal for your garage door to need repairs. Unfortunately, many homeowners make the mistake of only having their garage doors inspected by a professional once pieces of hardware or parts break. By delaying garage door repairs, you could experience costly and inconvenient emergency garage door repair or replacement later.
To avoid these untimely and expensive services, it’s important to recognize common signs that indicate your garage door needs repair.
1. Garage Door Won’t Open or Close
An obvious sign of a broken garage door is if the door won’t open or close when you hit the control buttons on the wall panel or remote. The cause of this malfunction could be easy to remedy, like an accidentally locked garage door or an engaged disconnect switch, or it could be larger problems like a faulty connection between the door and control panel, the door is off its tracks, misaligned photo eye sensors or other door malfunctions.
2. Noisy Door Operations
While it’s normal for your garage door to make some noise while operating, make note of any unusual garage door and opener sounds that indicate repair needs, including:
- Grating: Bent coils
- Rumbling: Loose spring tension
- Banging: Defective garage door panels
- Grinding: Worn rollers or poor lubrication of moving parts
- Squealing: Garage door is out of balance
- Rattling: A loose chain or support rails
- Straining: Defective garage door opener or inadequate horsepower
3. Garage Door Is Off Its Tracks
The garage door safely and reliably operates by moving up and down the tracks using rollers. Often when the garage door is older or has been damaged, the door can become dislodged from its tracks, preventing the door from being able to open and close properly. If your garage door is off its tracks, call a professional to inspect the problem and make repair suggestions.
4. Sagging Garage Door Sections
Part of regular garage door maintenance includes performing a balance test at least once or twice per year to check if your garage door panels are sagging. With a balance test, you’ll detach the door from the opener and then lift the garage door about halfway on its tracks. If the door stays in place, it’s properly balanced. But if it slams closed or snaps open, the door is off-balance or sagging. The cause of a sagging garage door could be worn tension springs or dulled rollers and tracks.
5. Slow Response Time
When you press your garage door remote, does the door take more than one or two seconds to respond? While waiting the extra time may not seem like a critical repair need, any operations taking more than a few seconds could indicate something wrong with your garage door system. Delayed operations can indicate a problem with the garage door or the opener, like broken opener cords, corroded pulleys, bad rollers or worn remote control circuitry.
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For Your Garage Door Repairs, Trust Hunter Door
When you need friendly, reliable and responsive garage door repair and maintenance services in South Jersey, call the experts at Hunter Door. As a South Jersey garage door servicing company operating throughout the area since 1969, we understand the needs of local homeowners throughout Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and surrounding communities, and we can provide quality and affordable garage door solutions that exceed your expectations. Our company goal is to always provide the best services, so we offer free project estimates and parts and labor warranties.
Set up your garage door repairs or maintenance today by calling us at 856-431-3952 or schedule an appointment by filling out our online contact form.
Other Top Blog Posts
- 6 Tips for Painting And Refinishing Your Garage Door
- How Does Summer Weather Affect Your Garage Door?
- What Is the ROI of a New Garage Door?