3 Tips For Maintaining Your Garage Door Springs
Posted on: 27 January 2018
Many people forget to maintain their garage door, but a poor garage door is a vulnerability to your home. Maintaining your garage door springs is a big part of keeping your door in good condition. If you haven't maintained your garage door springs before, check out these three tips.
Identify the Springs
Start by identifying the springs to see if you have extension or torsion springs. Start by closing the garage door, so you can see the springs. Torsion springs are on bars parallel to the top of your garage door. Extension springs are on bars parallel to the sides of your garage door. Extension springs are under a lot of pressure, so if they are damaged or need to be replaced, contact a professional. If you are inexperienced at removing these types of springs, you could cause serious damage or injury. Torsion springs are not under as much pressure because they use torsion instead of stretching to open the garage door.
Examine the Safety Cables
If you have extension cables, they should have safety cables running through them. This prevents them from flying through the room if they become loose. If you don't have safety cables, contact a garage door repair technician immediately. Once you've located the cables, examine them for any breakage or fraying. If you spot any damage, have them repaired quickly. Torsion springs don't have safety cables because they are held in place by a bar above the garage door.
Test the Springs Annually
It's best to test your garage door springs about once a year. The best way to do this is by opening and closing the door. While you do this, watch how the door opens. If one side is hanging lower or the door doesn't open, there is likely an issue with the springs. Make sure you also listen while opening and closing the door for any strange sounds, such as squeaking. This may indicate the springs need to be lubricated. Next, examine the springs for any damage or signs they are coming loose. If the springs do need lubrication, make sure to aerosol spray lubricant, which does a better job of penetrating and doesn't leave buildup.
One of the best things you can do for your garage door is to keep it well maintained, and one step is to maintain the springs. If you would like more information regarding garage door springs or if you need a garage spring repair, contact a garage door repair technician today.
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