Did you press your garage door opener only to find your door is not going up entirely or not moving at all? Potentially caused by various issues, the longer you continue using the door while it is not functioning correctly, the more wear and tear it puts on the parts.
Over time, this could lead to an even costlier repair, or serious injury. Accordingly, it is crucial to find the component causing this issue, but you may want to take a couple of steps before calling in the experts.
How Do I Know My Garage Door Spring Lost Tension?
Garage door spring systems are complex mechanisms that carry the door's weight, making it tricky to troubleshoot. It is important to keep this in mind when investigating the issue; your door likely weighs over 100 lbs., so do not try and hold the door's weight on your own. This is a component you don't want to mess with, as it can cause extreme injury or even death. While it is usually best to leave to a professional, the following process can help rule out other issues and identify the problem.
TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR GARAGE DOOR
1. The first step is identifying if the piece causing the issue is, in fact, a spring. There are two types of springs, torsion springs, and side-mount springs, and both may be improperly offsetting the weight of the door, causing it not to operate properly.
2. If it is a side-mounted spring causing the issue, look to their location on the door's sides like in the top picture. These springs extend when the door is open to counteract the force of the door's weight, so if they are not working, chances are the door will not fully go up. If this is the case, it will likely require a replacement, generally recommended for both sides.
3. The other type of springs, torsion springs, use torque to raise garage doors. They are located parallel to the floor at the top, so the force used to lift the door with this type of spring is comparable to linear force. If the door isn’t closing fully, these springs may need to be adjusted to increase or decrease tension. That process requires a professional to ensure safe and correct adjustments.
4. If the springs do not have any visible irregularities, move onto the next section.
WHEN TO CALL IN A PROFESSIONAL
• If you found a spring is broken, it must be replaced.
• If there is separation in the spring, it may either need an adjustment or require replacement.
• If there’s a loss of tension—it will be visibly stretched out or elongated and needs expert assistance.
• Suppose all springs look intact and are not overstretched or asymmetrical. In that case, it may be another component causing issues, and it is time to call in a professional for a thorough inspection of the door’s mechanisms to avoid additional damage.
UPLIFT GARAGE: SAME-DAY GARAGE DOOR SERVICES
Spring issues are not only dangerous but incredibly frustrating to deal with. If your garage door is having problems, contact our service professionals at Uplift Garage today! We offer same-day services for all common garage door problems like worn out springs, roller replacement, and door installations.
Contacts us today to receive a free quote!
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