Why Would My Garage Door Spring Snap?

There’s never a good time for a garage door spring to snap. You may arrive home after a long day at work or in a hurry to leave, and your garage door won’t work. Maybe you’re lucky enough to hear the sudden bang of a spring failing. Once a garage door spring has snapped, the only option is to replace it; this is a common repair since torsion and extension springs have a limited lifespan. Here, we’ll look at the reasons for garage door spring repair.

Reasons Garage Door Springs Snap

Extension springs last seven to 12 years on average, and torsion springs can last up to 15 years. Their lifespan depends on how many cycles they’re rated for. How frequently you operate the garage door and environmental factors can impact a garage door spring’s lifecycle. 

If not replaced beforehand, the spring will fail at the end of its life, leaving a gap, loose cable, or a garage door that’s crooked, struggles to move up or down, or falls to the ground. These are the most common reasons this can happen:

  • Wear and Tear: Garage door springs usually last about 10,000 cycles (one cycle is the garage door opening and closing). Higher-end springs can last for 20,000 cycles or more. Homeowners typically use their garage doors at least twice a day. The springs will eventually wear out due to frequent motion and the weight of the door, usually showing signs of damage before they break.
  • Excessive Tension: Too much tension can weaken garage door springs. Made of tempered steel, they will break under too much stress. Regular maintenance can reduce the strain on the springs; otherwise, they are at risk of failing prematurely and you’ll need garage door spring repair.
  • Extreme Temperatures: Garage door springs are more susceptible to breaking during a heat wave or cold spell. Insulating your garage can mitigate the effects of dramatic fluctuations in temperature. Installing weatherstripping also provides some protection. Otherwise, rapid expansion and contraction of metal when temperatures change can cause them to become brittle and fail.
  • Jammed Door: Garage door tracks can fill with dirt, debris, and grime. Dirty tracks can damage rollers, causing the door to jam and putting excess stress on the springs. The extra force can cause a spring to snap abruptly or speed up wear and tear so it fails prematurely.
  • Rust and Corrosion: When rust forms on a garage door spring, it increases the amount of friction as the spring moves, shortening its lifespan. Corrosion physically weakens the coils, so they fail sooner than expected.
  • Poor Installation: If the spring is the wrong size or installed improperly, it’s unlikely to handle normal use without wearing out faster. The spring can suddenly fail. To avoid such a situation, avoid DIY spring replacement and hire a certified technician with experience replacing garage door springs in residential settings.
  • Lack of Maintenance: Lubricating the spring with a silicone-based or white lithium grease can reduce friction, slow down corrosion, and increase life expectancy and the time between garage door spring repairs. Springs should be lubricated three or four times a year. Another helpful tip is to reduce the spring’s exposure to moisture.

Also, make sure to follow other garage door maintenance recommendations. These include checking for signs of damage or wear and testing the door’s balance. To do this, pull the emergency release cord to disconnect the garage door opener and lift the door halfway. When you let go, it should hold it still. However, if the door falls on its own, the springs should be adjusted or replaced.

Contact Us for Professional Garage Door Spring Repair

Mesa Garage Doors safely, quickly, and effectively replace garage door springs in homes across Southern California. We can also fix garage door openers, cables, tracks, rollers, and panels. Our operators are available 24/7 in case of an emergency. To request garage door spring repair or any other service we offer, call (714) 559-3696 today.

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Can a Bent Garage Door Be Fixed?

A bent garage door can be fixed, but how you proceed depends on the issue. You may be tempted to try a DIY fix as soon as you notice the problem. But is this a good idea? The warranty may dictate what types of repairs must be done professionally. Proceeding with a repair without expertise or a license can risk voiding the warranty. The best way to start is to ask a garage door repair company if you should move forward or schedule an appointment.

You can fix some garage door issues. Some examples include cleaning dirt and debris from the tracks, tightening nuts and bolts, adjusting a bracket, or lubricating springs, rollers, and hinges. But more advanced tasks should be handled by a skilled technician. 

Why Does a Garage Door Bend?

A garage door can bend or dent for many reasons. The most common causes include an impact by a vehicle or sports equipment, falling debris, or hail. An obstruction in the tracks can also bend the garage door. Other causes include contact with power tools or use of improper cleaning equipment.

The consequences of a bent garage door include moisture intrusion (if the weather seal is broken), leading to water damage. A bent panel can also obstruct the garage door opener. Therefore, the door may not fully open or close and can be damaged more by trying to operate it. If there’s a bent panel, you should call for garage door repair right away.

How a Bent Garage Door Is Fixed

A bend in a garage door panel can damage the track, a roller, or a bearing. It can also cause a lag in movement that strains the garage door opener. If a panel at the bottom of the garage door is bent, it can often be repaired without much hassle.

However, if the garage door is bent in the middle, repairing it may take more time and effort. Replacing the entire panel requires removing all the panels attached to it. Extensive fixes can be quite costly and require a professional to replace the garage door.

Fixing a bent garage door can be accomplished in the following ways:

  • Hammer Out the Bend: A bend in a garage door can be hammered out if the damage isn’t extensive. Use a soft rubber mallet or block of wood if going with this approach. Place the mallet or wood block on the bend (from behind where it protrudes outward) and hold it tight against the surface. Strike the block lightly. Using too much force will only make the dent bigger.
  • Use Suction Cups: Suction cups can be used as an alternative if the dent is small. Place the suction tool over the dented area. The pressure from the suction device straightens out the damaged segment. This method is most effective for metal garage doors. 
  • Straighten the Panel with Heat: When you heat a piece of metal, it can take its original form as it cools. First, place a piece of aluminum foil on the dented section. Then, apply a heat source along with compressed air. This quickly heats and cools the panel, which straightens it within a few minutes.
  • Fill the Dent: If the door still opens and closes normally, filling the dent is possible. To do so, start by sanding the area. This smooths out any jagged fragments. Then, fill the dented space with an auto-body filler (mix in a hardening agent if the product instructions call for it) and apply the filler. Once it’s smooth, dried, and sanded, apply a coat of paint that matches the garage door (or paint the entire door to match and completely hide the bend).

When Should I Replace the Garage Door Panel?

A technician should replace a bent panel if you can’t fix it.  Replacing a garage door panel requires a few tools, including vise grips, a hand-operated winch, and an impact drill. The vise grips fit under the garage door once it’s set to an adjusted height. The garage door cable must be tensioned with a come-along, which is a type of hand ratchet puller. You’ll need to remove the panel’s hinges and crank the ratchet puller to create a space to remove and replace the damaged panel.

A garage door bottom panel, while more prone to damage, requires a different approach to replacement or repair. Neglecting to repair it can result in damage to the entire system. First, unplug the garage door opener. To replace a bottom panel, a hoist is needed to raise the garage door, and a vise grip is used to hold the cable to the drum. Removing and replacing the bottom section requires many precautions and the hinge bolts holding it in place can be difficult to remove.

We do not recommend replacing a bent garage door panel without the help of a professional.

Contact Us for Bent Garage Door Repair

At Mesa Garage Doors, we specialize in all types of garage door repair. If a door panel is bent, we can find a solution depending on the location and size of the bend and the extent of the damage. Don’t try to fix any garage door issues yourself. Our team of skilled professionals is trained to quickly, safely, and effectively resolve them. To schedule a garage door repair, call (714) 709-2701 today.

 

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