There’s a sound that no homeowner wants to hear. That loud bang coming from your garage, like something just snapped. If you’ve experienced this, you probably already know what happened. Your garage door springs gave out.
It’s one of those things you don’t really think about until it happens. And when it does, your garage door suddenly feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. Because honestly, without working springs, it kind of does. Eco Garage Door Services shares what causes garage door springs to break, and what to do if it happens to you near Austin, Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio, TX.
Why Your Garage Door Springs Matter So Much Near Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, TX
Your garage door is heavy. We’re talking anywhere from 150 to over 400 pounds, depending on the material and size. Those springs do most of the heavy lifting.
When you press that button on your garage door opener, the opener isn’t really lifting all that weight by itself. The springs are doing the hard work. They store tension and release it to help raise the door smoothly. Without them, your opener would burn out pretty quickly trying to move that much weight on its own.
So when your garage door springs break, everything stops working the way it should. The door might not open at all. Or it might open a few inches and get stuck. Either way, you’re not getting your car out until those springs get fixed.
What Causes Garage Door Springs to Break?
Several factors can cause your garage door springs to break. Some of these are preventable, some are not. Let’s take a look at a few of these.
Excessive Stress
If your springs are battling too much stress, they simply won’t make it. Springs have to be installed to match the specific door they’re paired with. So if you have a door that’s too heavy for your springs, they’re going to give out.
Old Age
Over time, your springs will start to weaken from use. They won’t be able to lift the door as easily as they once did, and they’ll probably end up breaking from it. The good news is that this will take 7-10 years before it happens. Age causes garage door springs to break, but with proper garage door maintenance, you can help them last longer!
Other Door Problems
If other elements of your door operating system are experiencing issues, this can negatively affect the springs. For example, if your door is slightly misaligned due to a blockage in one of the tracks, the springs will struggle to lift it properly because of the misbalance of weight.
Lack of Maintenance
Regular maintenance will keep your springs going longer. Annual tune-ups mean that your springs are tightened and lubricated so that they can keep on lifting. Without this, they’ll fall flat much sooner. Lack of maintenance causes garage door springs to break, but there are plenty of ways to extend the life of your garage door system near Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, TX.
How Do You Know If Your Springs Are Broken?
Sometimes the signs are obvious, like if you hear a loud bang from your garage. Other times, it’s more subtle.
Here’s what to look for:
- Your garage door won’t open, even though the opener seems to be running
- The door opens a few inches and then stops
- The door feels incredibly heavy when you try to lift it manually
- You can see a visible gap in one of the springs above your door
- The door opens unevenly or looks crooked
If you notice any of these things, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with broken garage door springs. And while it might be tempting to try and force the door open or mess with the springs yourself, we really don’t recommend it. Instead, you should call Eco Garage Door Services in Austin, TX and nearby service areas to get your springs repaired.
Why You Shouldn’t Try to Fix Springs Yourself
There are plenty of DIY projects around the house that make sense to tackle on your own. Garage door spring repair shouldn’t be one of them.
These springs hold a lot of tension in order to do their job properly. When that tension releases unexpectedly, the spring can lash out, injuring people or damaging property.
Don’t try to fix your broken springs yourself. Let one of our trained professionals at Eco Garage Door Services handle it for you in a safe way!
Can You Prevent Spring Breakage?
While springs will eventually wear out no matter what, there are some things you can do to help them last longer.
Regular maintenance is important to the upkeep of your springs. Having your garage door system inspected annually can catch small problems before they become big ones. One of our technicians can check spring tension, lubricate moving parts, and ensure everything is properly balanced.
Pay attention to unusual sounds. If your garage door starts squeaking, grinding, or making sounds it didn’t used to make, that’s worth investigating. Ignoring early signs of trouble causes garage door springs to break more easily. Early intervention can often extend the life of your springs.
Keep things balanced. If your door isn’t properly balanced, your springs work harder than they need to. This ultimately shortens their lifespan. A simple balance test involves disconnecting the opener and manually lifting the door halfway. If it stays in place, your springs are well-balanced. If it falls or rises on its own, the balance might be off.
Ready to Get Your Garage Door Working Again Near Austin, Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio, TX?
Dealing with broken garage door springs doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Our team can make a spring repair a quick and seamless process.
Eco Garage Door Services is proud to serve homeowners throughout Austin, TX, Houston, TX, Schertz, TX, and Lockhart, TX. If your garage door springs broke or you just want to have your system inspected before problems start, give us a call! Have additional question about what causes garage door springs to break? We’d love to hear from you!
