A broken garage door spring will compromise your door’s function and your busy morning schedule. Worse, if you don’t know how to spot a broken spring, you may be at risk of injuries if you continue to use your garage door.
So, for this post, we’ll list down some broken spring symptoms, what to do, and why you should call a professional for quick repairs. Keep reading to learn if your spring is already due for a repair or replacement!
6 physical signs of a broken garage door spring
If you don’t know how to identify broken garage spring, you can start by checking for these visual damage signs on your unit:
1. There are gaps between the coils.
One of the tell-tale signs of spring wire damage is visible gaps between the coils. Large gaps mean that the spring is broken and will require a garage door spring replacement to restore your door’s functionality.
Take note that it’s never a good idea to weld a broken torsion spring. These springs are wound tightly to carry a lot of tension. If you try to fuse the broken parts together, it will end up snapping – god forbid it happens while you’re adding tension to it.
So, if you notice gaps on your door springs and the coils are no longer tightly wound, it’s time to call an expert for repairs.
2. The springs look overstretched.
In some cases, there might be gaps between each coil, but the torsion spring isn’t necessarily broken. It’s possible that the spring has been overstretched, which caused coil separation.
This can happen if your garage door is heavier than the spring is rated for. Other culprits include improper installation or simply normal wear and tear due to frequent use.
At this point, we recommend calling for an emergency garage door repair to address the problem. Take note that overstretched springs are still loaded with tension, and trying to tweak them yourself can lead to injuries.
3. The cables are loose.
Take note that a broken torsion spring will also affect your door’s cables. If your cables are loose or have gone out of the winding drum, you should check your spring next.
It’s because when a spring breaks, it will unwind, causing the cables to slip out of place. Even if you fix the cables back, they will keep snapping out of place until the broken spring has been fixed.
4. The springs are loose.
Next, check if your springs are loose, which could indicate spring tension loss. With this problem, your door may not close or open all the way. If not repaired, it can cause spring system failure, which could have been prevented with immediate repairs.
Depending on the actual condition of your door springs, they may be amenable to repairs or already due for replacement. The best way to know is to call a Los Angeles garage door repair expert for a same-day garage spring inspection.
5. The springs look deformed.
Deformity on your garage door springs can be due to wear and tear, overextension, rust, or improper installation. If your spring is already old, it could mean that it’s already at the end of its lifespan and should be replaced promptly.
Although your door may still work with this spring problem, it may start to have counterbalance issues. It will also cause further spring deterioration, which will ultimately lead to total damage.
6. There are cracks in the spring material.
If you can see pitting or cracks on your door’s spring, you should call for the best garage door repair Los Angeles has to offer. These cracks are signs that your spring could break anytime, and you need a professional to handle the situation safely.
Cracked springs are a common garage door problem if you have an old unit. However, it can also show up on low-quality springs or ones that don’t match the weight rating of your door.
What should you do with a broken garage door spring?
If you discover that you have a damaged garage door spring, here are the things you should and shouldn’t do:
- Stop using your garage door. The moment you notice garage door spring damage signs, you should avoid operating your door. Doing so could cause further damage to your door or injuries when the spring snaps accidentally.
- Disconnect the door from the opener. Next, you should pull the emergency release cord hanging on your overhead tracks. This way, you won’t accidentally operate the door, especially if you’re using a wireless remote or keypad.
- Avoid DIY repairs. As we mentioned earlier, garage door springs are loaded with tension and can be dangerous for untrained hands. In that case, it’s best to leave the spring diagnostics and repair to licensed professionals.
- Call a professional. Professionals like California Garage Door Repair have 18+ years of experience fixing just about any garage door problem. If you have any issues with your door, call us anytime, and we’ll send a technician as soon as possible.
- Get both springs replaced. When getting garage door repair for your broken torsion springs, we recommend replacing them even if only one is damaged. This is to avoid door balance problems due to the old spring getting worn out faster.
Garage door maintenance tips to prevent spring damage
Broken springs are common problems we solve in Los Angeles. After all, torsion springs have a maximum service life and will have to be replaced at some point. Still, proper garage door maintenance can extend its lifespan so you can get the most out of your unit.
Here are some of the maintenance tips we give our clients when it comes to their door springs:
1. Schedule regular inspections
You shouldn’t wait for garage door problems to arise before you call a professional. In fact, you can schedule a tension inspection for your springs to see if they are in good shape. From there, the door technician can provide necessary repairs in case he spots any damage to your garage door.
Aside from that, technicians know what broken garage springs look like, and they can repair them right away. Instead of doing DIY work on your end for hours, you can call in the pros for a quick and reliable fix.
This proactive approach will save you from the hassle of spring problems on a busy day or late hours of the night. Also, it will prevent the damage from worsening and becoming more expensive to repair.
2. Lubricate your torsion springs
Torsion springs can be susceptible to rusting, so make sure you lubricate them using a silicone-based lubricant. If your door has extension springs, lubricating isn’t always necessary, but still a good practice to avoid corrosion.
Take note that you should only apply a small amount of lubricant to avoid attracting and trapping dirt between the coils. Depending on how often you use your door, you can do this every six months to a year.
3. Keep your tracks and rollers in good shape
Clean and smooth tracks allow your door to open or close without the springs compensating for any drag. This will reduce unnecessary strain on your torsion springs, making them last longer in your garage.
Like the springs, you also need to lubricate your door’s tracks and rollers to ensure smooth operation. You should also replace damaged rollers and fix bent tracks to keep your garage door in good shape.
4. Match your springs with your door weight
Take note that the right choice of torsion springs depends on your door’s weight and wind direction. You also have to factor in the wire size, overall length, and inside diameter of the springs you’re going to get.
With that said, torsion springs aren’t universal for doors. If you use the wrong springs on your DIY project, it will likely break in just a short period.
Instead of doing guesswork, call California Garage Door Repair to get compatible torsion springs for your door. We can also install the springs and remove the broken ones, so you won’t have to worry.
5. Don’t hang heavy items on your door
Always remember that the heavier your door gets, the more your torsion springs get strained. This can lead to spring breakage later on, especially if the loaded door’s weight is already way beyond the spring is rated for.
In addition, the hanging items on your door may get stuck between panels, which can interfere with the door’s normal functions.
At the same time, you should recheck your torsion springs if you’re planning to install insulation on your door. In some cases, you may have to upgrade your springs, too.
Dealing with a torsion spring failure? Call California Garage Door Repair for a quick fix!
If you need 24/7 and same-day garage door spring repair, all you have to do is reach out to California Garage Door Repair. We serve Los Angeles and surrounding areas for any garage door-related problems.
All our technicians are licensed and insured to give the best service to our fellow locals. Since 2006, we are the trusted garage door company in LA and we’ve helped thousands of homeowners in LA resolve their door problems.
So, when you have issues with your garage door, contact us, and we’ll be there in as fast as one hour! We’ll also give you a free, no-obligation quote!
