Garage Door Springs

Most Common Garage Door Spring Problems

Most Common Garage Door Spring Problems

Garage doors are an essential component of your home or business, providing security and convenience. Garage door springs, in particular, play a critical role in the smooth operation of your garage door. However, like any mechanical system, garage door springs can develop problems over time, leading to malfunctioning doors, safety hazards, and costly repairs.

Note: Don't let garage door spring problems put your safety at risk or cost you money in costly repairs. Contact Garage Door Specialists in San Antonio today to schedule a consultation and get the help you need to keep your garage door running smoothly.

Call Garage Door Specialists today at +1 210-361-3998

How old is your garage door springs?

When was the last time you have replaced your garage door springs? On average, your garage door springs should last about 10,000 cycles which is estimated to be about 7 to 8 years. Of course, that depends on the frequency of how many times you open and close your garage door a day. Let’s say you open and close your garage door 8 times a day, for instance, then you multiply that by 365-days, and it would give you the number of cycles per year.

However, sometimes poor installation may cause your springs to wear down faster and you may need to replace them every 3 years instead of 7. Poorly installed springs could cause damage to your valuables and cause harm and injury to you or your family members. You can call a professional garage door company to come run an inspection on your springs and check the safety of your garage door.

Before we go ahead and dive into the most common garage door spring problems and the recommended repairs for each issue, it should be noted that garage door springs always need experienced professionals to handle and fix them. it is highly recommended that you do not attempt under any circumstances to do it on your own, if you don’t have any background or training on how they operate. Now let’s dive into the two main types of garage door springs:


Garage Door Torsion Springs

Torsion springs are the most common springs found in garage doors today. Not only that, but they also last longer than extension springs and that is due to the fact that the material that garage door torsion springs are made out of is very dense. Let’s take a look at how garage door torsion springs work: torsion springs are found on top of your garage door opening rather than extending on the sides of your tracks like extension springs. They function using torque. Torque is the force that causes rotation.

When you open your garage door, the springs loosen up and transfer their mechanical energy to your garage door, which helps making it light enough for the opener to lift it. On the other side, when you close your garage door, the springs tighten up and store energy from the rotation motion of the cables that are attached to the bottom corner sides of the garage door.


Garage Door Torsion Springs
Garage Door Extension Springs

This type of springs run along your garage door wall and is connected to the pulley of your garage door, which is then connected to the cables at the bottom corners of your garage. They are more challenging to install and manufacture than torsion springs. Most professionals recommend that you install torsion springs as they have a lot more benefits and are also safer.

As their name indicates, extension springs fully extend when the garage door closes and fully contracts when the garage door opens. They usually last less than torsion springs. Extension springs would last for about 10,000 cycles while torsion springs would last you anywhere between 15,000 to 20,000.


Garage Door Extension Springs

Common Garage Door Spring Issues

  • Garage Door opens a little or doesn't open at all.
  • Garage Door opens half way, then closes back down
  • Garage Door is making very loud noises

If you're experiencing any of these garage door spring problems, don't hesitate to contact Garage Door Specialists in San Antonio. Our team of experts can help diagnose and repair your garage door springs quickly and efficiently, ensuring that your door is safe and secure.


Garage door spring repair

Regardless of the type of your garage door springs, whether you have extension springs or torsion springs (most garage doors have torsion springs), do not try to open or close your garage door. The main function of Garage door springs is to make your garage door light enough for the garage door opener to lift it. Have your ever wondered why it is so easy to lift your garage door? Well, that’s because the springs are doing the all the work for you! So in other words, if garage door springs are broken, your opener will most likely burn up, and your garage door could fall off.


Garage door opens almost half way then closes back down

If you ever experience this, most likely it means that your garage door springs needs to be replaced. While they may be loose and not broken, you must call a professional to handle this as this is the most dangerous and risky part of your garage door to try fixing yourself. We highly recommend that you do not attempt to do it on your own and immediately call a garage door specialists company to handle the job for you.


Garage door opens a couple of inches then closes, or it doesn’t open at all

Imagine you are rushing to work or to an appointment early in the morning, you try to open your garage door and it will not open! This will probably cause you to miss work or be late to your appointment as it means that your garage door springs are broken and need to be replaced with new ones as soon as possible.


Garage door is making loud noises

Can you imagine how many times your garage door opens and closes a year? Your garage door opens and closes several a day and many times a year, 1200-1500 times on average if not more. Your springs need to be smooth and oiled. You need to apply a lubricant regularly to prolong your garage door springs lifetime and to avoid hearing any annoying noises. Lubricate your springs with a silicon-based lubricant. Also make sure that the bolts are not loosen up and tighten them as needed.


Diagnosing your garage door springs:

  • Safety first, ensure that your garage door is closed all the way down to avoid any injury to yourself or valuable belongings
  • Pull the emergency cord to make sure that your garage door is disconnected from your garage opener.
  • Lift your garage door half way and then slowly release it. If it stays, then try lifting it a bit more up to your shoulder height then release slowly and check if it stays. If it stays then your good to go! Everything is working how it is supposed to be.
  • On the other hand, if your garage door springs are broken, your garage door is going to be very heavy to lift and you should call a repair company right away. if you have lifted the door already and it feels very heavy, make sure that you put it back down carefully because you don’t want it to crash down or fall of track.


Tips and Tricks

Garage Door Springs Corrosion is a common problem that many houses face. If your garage door springs are exposed to water frequently, they will probably wear down and start making very loud and annoying noises. For that reason, we advise you that you may want to invest in a high quality water-proof springs.

At Garage Door Specialists, we serve San Antonio and surrounding areas, including New Braunfels, Boerne, and more. Our team of experts has years of experience diagnosing and repairing garage door spring problems of all types, and we're here to help you keep your garage door working smoothly and efficiently. Don't let garage door spring problems put your safety at risk or cost you money in costly repairs. Contact Garage Door Specialists in San Antonio today to schedule a consultation and get the help you need to keep your garage door running smoothly.


Call Garage Door Specialists today at +1 210-361-3998
garage door specialists vehicle

Garage Door Specialists

Garage Door Specialists is a family owned garage door service company. We work on residential and commercial Garage Doors and have been repairing garage doors for years. We pride ourselves for being prompt, reliable, honest and professional. We offer 24/7 emergency services, flexible scheduling and competitive rates so give us a call for an estimate and schedule an appointment today!