The Ins and Outs to Avoid the Fall.

Hello again. As we head into fall in New England, I am receiving a lot of call-out service requests to handle routine maintenance and winterizing tune-ups on garage door opener systems. In my years of industry experience, I have never witnessed the increase in these types of requests as I have in the past 3 or 4 years. 

I have taken measures to stay ahead with the changes in technology, parts, composite design, and style flair that make your garage door statement…a reflection of how you live and, in most cases now, work at home. My name is Ronen Sisso, and this is my “Point of View,” a forum where you can read, research, reach out, and request my services. 

This topic is aimed at the simple garage door spring, its basic function, how it works on centuries-old physics and how you can keep your springs in shape for all seasons. 

The change from dumping ground to grand showcase

As mentioned above, garage doors are becoming a trend-setting feature point for homeowners now more than ever. Economically, for the small business owner in the right niche, the garage space is being used as a workshop, office, design studio, podcast booth, or weather-protected EV charging station.

Because they are relied upon to provide convenient access to both stay-at-home businesses, customer and parts access and delivery in some cases, the house plus security at the end of the day or while away, it is imperative that they are kept in proper working order to avoid any surprise breakdowns. 

So what to do then, when you are faced with the annoying problem that a majority of garage owners eventually are prone to experience: the garage door grinds to a halt in the middle of opening or closing. 

Assuming the issue is a faulty garage door spring, the number one reason is because of simple.

●  Wear and tear: Rated for an average of 10,000 to 12,000 cycles at a minimum of twice daily ( a cycle being a complete up and down opening and closing of the door ) and not taking into account any extra trips out for errands, alternate drivers using the vehicle or even kids coming and going, those little extras add up and take away the life expectancy of the garage door springs. There are options to help get those years back with a newer line of extended-life torsion-style springs that promise to keep up to speed for at least 20,000 cycles.

Secondly, and one we have all been guilty of procrastinating with at one time or another, is

●  Improper maintenance: Once you’ve become familiar with the professional tips of basic routine maintenance, you’ll see how quickly you can prolong your garage door springs and even be able to notice signs of an impending repair. I recommend calling a pro to thoroughly inspect, clean, adjust, and repair any garage door issues now because there is a higher risk of springs breaking during the winter than at any other time of the year. To help you determine what may be at stake, you can always check the balance of your door by pulling the red-handled emergency release cord to put the door into manual mode. Lift the door almost halfway, and then, standing clear, let it go. If your springs are good, the door shouldn’t move at all. You’ll know it’s time to replace or repair the springs if it moves or shifts. 

Finally, the third reason for a broken or unreliable spring is:

●  Rust: Any corrosion will weaken the coil work of the spring, cause friction due to lack of smooth operation, and render any non-compliant lubrication useless. The use of lithium grease or a silicone spray reacts better with garage door springs, so don’t rely on the spray canned multipurpose machine oil. 

Pound per pound

Whether extension or torsion, the torque force required for a spring to operate properly is founded in the law of gravity and, simply put, means that if your garage door is 100 pounds, then the springs need to exert an equal force for the springs to be counterbalanced to fit the weight of the door and calibrated to lift the same 100 pounds. 

Imagine the results then, should a spring snap or break during a DIY attempt. Also, I want to inform you this is why you will always see both springs being replaced at the same time, even if it’s just one spring down and out. 

Ultimately, your garage springs are responsible for the entire working of your garage door, and as a final interesting fact for your consideration is **the amount of tension in use is at its highest peak when the garage door is closed and is released when the door effortlessly glides up or slides sideways. Most garage door springs will then break when on the ground but should, in the rare occurrence, break while the door is raised. The potential for severe injury and damage is always a possibility. This is why people are correct when they avoid walking under a moving garage door.**

Don’t put the wait off any longer. Schedule your routine maintenance, spring inspection or repair and replacement before the winter sets in. 

Until then, enjoy the other informative articles covering all aspects of a garage door system, a new purchase and installation or even a wireless overhaul into the new age of home garage technology.