One of the most important and dangerous parts on any home garage door opener are the high tension springs which need to be routinely inspected and lubricated as per the manufacturers instructions. Unfortunately, the majority of homeowners are unaware that garage door tension springs and several other parts of the door require occasional run-of-the-mill servicing and safety checks.
The most important and vital component part on any overhead garage door opener are the torsion springs which allow the door to open and close easily and smoothly. However, springs that are either broken or incorrectly fitted can present a very real danger. As with all mechanical and electrical gear in the home, garage doors require frequent servicing to ensure that they go on operating the way they were meant to.
If you are having any trouble opening or closing your garage door, you should always pay close attention to the torsion springs which are the most obvious culprits. Depending how old the springs, they are liable to have worn out to a certain degree. Garage door torsion springs are kept under very high tension and are wound tightly. It is due to this extreme high tension that even the best quality steel springs will wear over time and eventually snap. It is because of this danger of sudden breakage that all garage door opener torsion springs need to be contained in order to prevent serious injury or property damage. That containment is either in the form of cables or in the case of roller shutter doors, an outer steel tube.
Even if the springs are contained, or if the door has been fitted for a number of years, you should have them inspected by a professional garage door installer.The springs should be replaced if necessary. If you have the type of garage door which has a pair of independant springs, and only one is not operating correctly, it makes sense to replace both simultaneously. You can bet your bottom dollar that if one spring has broken, its opposite number will suffer the same fate
You might have a garage door which causes the springs to screech loudly or make a chattering noise when the door is lifted or lowered. Simply because it makes these noises does not indicate that either the door or the springs need replacements. Instead, the problem can be in all likelihood be fixed with a simple bit of lubrication of the various moving components.
A further indication that your garage door needs inspection and repair is if there are shredded and worn strips of cable hanging loose. Irrespective of the quality of your garage door opener, this is an indication that the cables are on the brink of snapping. An abrupt break in the garage door cables can result in serious injury. These chafed cables should be tested and most likely replaced by a professional garage door contractor who is acquainted with the problems connected with springs and cables snapping.
Garage doors by themselves are very heavy and because of that weight, the torsion springs need to be kept under extreme tension. You should therefore not attempt any mechanical adjustments yourself because of the risks involved in doing so. It is advisable to have a professional garage door engineer inspect these important parts of your home each year to avoid potential injury and problems caused by faulty springs.
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