Tools to Help You Understand the Construction Industry

Possible Reasons Why You Have to Deal with Broken Garage Door Springs

27 September 2018

Tommy Franklin

Despite how sturdy your garage door is, it is bound to develop some hiccups down the road due to regular use. Keep in mind that opening and closing these heavy doors on a regular basis will eventually start to wear down the components that facilitate these motions. Therefore, it is always best to try to keep a sharp eye out for signs of disrepair as well as address them as soon as you notice them.

One of the components that have a finite lifespan is the springs. And depending on some factors, this wear can be accelerated. The piece below looks at a couple of the possible reasons why you may have to contend with broken garage door springs.

The type of springs installed on your garage doors

You may be under the assumption that springs are all built the same, but this is untrue. The kind of spring that was installed on the garage doors will have a direct impact on how the components will fare with daily usage. There are two primary types that you should be aware of. The first is the oil-tempered variety that is manufactured by putting it under high heat then quenching the metal with oil before the spring is reheated for a final time.

The second option is the zinc-galvanised alternative, which is put through a hot-dip galvanisation process so that the spring is coated in zinc. While both processes are efficient, the oil tempered springs have a longer lifespan. Nonetheless, if not properly cared for, oil-tempered springs are vulnerable to corrosion, unlike the zinc variety that is immune to rust. 

Direct impact on the garage doors

Accidents are unavoidable. Nevertheless, it is the measures you take after the accident that will determine the condition of your garage door springs. For instance, some homeowners may assume that accidentally ramming into their garage door will merely affect the appearance of the doors. But even if the doors are opening and shutting after the accident, it is still advisable to have a technician come and examine the springs.

A simple fender bender with the garage doors can exert excessive strain on the springs, which could lead to them stretching or snapping altogether. As a result, if you do not notice immediate problems with your garage doors, it is only a matter of time before the daily usage causes the springs to fail. Therefore, if you recently knocked into your garage doors, it is likely that the impact is what caused them to break. 

Share

Search