The FBI reports that 9% of burglars enter a home through the garage door. Your garage door is an essential piece of your home’s safety as well as its curb appeal. Keeping it in top working order is very important.
When you have a broken garage door spring, you may be tempted to try to fix it yourself. However, repairing garage door springs is really a job for a garage door professional. Find out what you gain by leaving it to the pros.
1. Safety
Garage door tension springs are dangerous, especially if you don’t have experience working with them.
Torsion springs are under extreme tension when they’re wound. If you remove them incorrectly, the tension will suddenly release in a way that can leave you seriously injured. You could lose your fingers if the torsion spring spins out of control.
The garage door itself is another danger. The average garage door weighs between 200 and 500 pounds. If the garage door falls while you’re working on it, the glass in the windows will shatter. Even worse, you could be crushed if you’re underneath it.
Leaving the garage door down to work on it is also hazardous. If you try to remove the bottom bracket, the bracket and cable will snap free. They will likely hit you in the face with enough force to send you to the hospital.
2. The Right Garage Door Springs
A garage door repair professional will ensure that you get the right replacement springs. You can’t tell which replacement springs you need just by looking at them. A variety of measurements are necessary.
You need to know the length of the springs and their interior diameter. You also need the wire gauge.
The features of your garage door help determine how strong the springs need to be. The height and width of the garage door as well as what material it is are important factors. The number of horizontal and vertical sections also affects what springs you need.
Using the wrong garage door springs can cause them to wear out quickly. Your garage door could break or fall. The opener will eventually break. You could be injured trying to install the wrong springs.
A trained garage door professional will make the calculations to be sure you get the right parts.
3. Proper Installation with the Right Tools
A garage door repair specialist will install your springs correctly using the proper tools.
Most people don’t have the specialized tools to safely remove and replace tension springs. For example, you need a winding bar to wind torsion springs. If you try to wind them using a makeshift item like a screwdriver, you can lose control of the spring and injure or even sever your fingers.
You need to use an exact formula to calculate how many times to wind the torsion springs. If you wind the springs too tightly or not tightly enough, the garage door opener will break.
Finally, calibrating the springs is necessary so that the garage door moves smoothly. If the calibration isn’t right, jerky springs can damage the opener tracks and the door.
Finding a Garage Door Repair Company
A garage door repair professional will replace your garage door springs safely and correctly. Your warranty may even cover the work. You’ll keep the door warranty valid by having a professional repair it. In addition, you’ll get a warranty for the repair that gives you peace of mind.
When you need to replace your garage door springs, you want to find the right garage door service experts. Look for an experienced, local company with positive customer reviews.
All-Pro Overhead Door has been installing and repairing garage doors in the Sacramento area for 10 years. We’re available 24/7 for emergency repairs. Contact us for a free estimate.
