We can all imagine the scenario: you come home after a long day of work, click your garage door opener, and nothing happens. After a moment of confusion, you’re left wondering why on earth your garage door isn’t opening. Could it be because the opener batteries died? Are the garage door springs out of whack?
Most homeowners hope they don’t come across a broken garage door, but unfortunately, springs don’t listen to our demands. As experts in residential garage doors, our team knows that the best way to be prepared is by understanding some telltale signs of a broken garage door spring to help you get in front of the issue.
Your Door Sounds Like a Horror Movie
Garage doors shouldn’t sound much different from the sound you probably have in your head, and it should be consistent whether you close or open the door. If you have a garage door issue, it may be noticeable via loud bangs or louder sounds when you operate the door. Closing the garage door shouldn’t sound like jump scares in a horror movie. If you hear a loud noise or popping and squealing during operation, contact your local residential garage door company.
Your Garage Door Opener Won’t Open the Door
If you get to the door and the automatic opener won’t open the door, you might have a broken spring. However, don’t just automatically assume the springs are the issue. First, ensure that there is power to the opener. If it’s working fine, take note of what happens with your garage door. Many of the newest openers have a mechanism called “opener force,” which keeps the door from failing and falling down unexpectedly. When the opener feels the weight is off, usually the result of a broken spring, it stops the door from opening more than half a foot off the ground.
The Door Closes Way Too Fast
With older openers, the door will likely continue to open and close as normal. The only noticeable difference may be that the door itself opens much faster than normal. It might only be a subtle change, but it’s a key indicator that your springs are not handling the full weight of your door. If you feel like something is off, you can open the door manually and try to leave it halfway. If the springs are broken, it will be difficult for the door to remain open in this position.
The Springs Look Damaged
When was the last time you took a look at your springs? If your spring breaks, there will likely be a bit of evidence, from visible gaps to rust and corrosion. When torsion springs break in the middle, they leave a gap that can be a few inches wide. Springs can also have a stretched-out look, almost as if they aren’t returning into place after use. If this is accompanied by rust and corrosion, it’s likely time for you to get your door inspected for any damages.
The Door Looks Crooked When Opening
Your garage door should be opening evenly, so one that opens twisted or leaning to one side of the door is a big sign that you need garage door springs repaired. When garage door extension springs break, one side of the door may open faster than the other. Besides the fact that it looks wonky, this can be extremely dangerous as it puts additional pressure on both sides of your door.
Spring Trouble? Get in Touch With Our Garage Door Specialists
If your garage door springs are causing you stress, don’t hesitate to turn to the professionals for help. When you partner with us, you’ll rely on expert garage door repair technicians who can diagnose and repair plenty of the most common garage door problems — including broken springs. Let Overhead Door of Maricopa-Pinal County help you with your spring repair. Contact us today to get started!
