If you have a garage door, chances are high that it’s one of the most used entry points in your home. You open and close it multiple times a day without so much thought. This is until something goes wrong. One common issue you are likely to deal with is a broken spring.
Before it actually breaks, it will give you a couple of warning signs. It’s now up to you to be on the lookout for these signs. This is the only way that you can catch the problem early on before it turns out to be a menace. This article explains five such signs.
The Door Feels Heavy or Hard to Lift
If you feel like you need more effort to lift, that’s a clear indicator that the spring is losing tension. Normally, the tension mechanism offsets most of the weight. By doing this, it allows the door to glide up and down in a smooth manner.
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However, with time, the balance may weaken. In such a situation, you will find yourself having to do more of the heavy lifting.
This is a symptom that you shouldn’t ignore for too long. The main reason behind this is that you will be putting more strain on the opener. This can eventually cause total failure.
It Opens Unevenly or Jerks While Moving
This is likely to be the situation when the spring wears out or loses balance. Once this takes place, it could cause one side to lift faster than the other. Over time, this imbalance leads to more strain on the motor and cables. This ends up increasing the risk of a complete failure.
If you notice this sign, you need to call in the professionals as fast as possible. Failure to do this may eventually cause further damage. It’s hence wise to address this problem early on. This will help prevent those sudden breakdowns that may leave your car trapped inside.
A Loud Bang from the Garage
When you hear a loud bang from the garage, that should be alarming. It, in fact, suggests that something serious has happened. At most times, this sound is made when a snap happens under pressure. When this takes place, it ends up releasing all the stored energy at once. This sound can be quite massive, and it could startle anyone nearby.
Once you come to check out the issue, you may notice everything appears intact. However, you shouldn’t ignore what you just heard. The loud noise should be an enough indicator that a crucial component has failed or is about to fail.
Won’t Stay Open on Its Own
You may notice the door isn’t able to stay open on its own. This is a clear sign that something could be wrong with the counterbalance mechanism. In fact, your spring may be weakening. This is why it could be forcing the opener to work much harder than it should.
You may notice that it starts to close slowly after you lift. It could also feel a bit heavy when operating manually.
This imbalance places so much strain on the motor. It may even result in a dangerous drop if left unchecked.
If you notice such an issue, consider calling in the experts. Professionals can fix the challenge before it causes total failure.
Visible Gaps or Rust on the Spring
If you happen to spot visible gaps or rust, then know your mechanism is under stress. It may also indicate that your spring is beginning to deteriorate.
At times, the coil may stretch or start to develop spaces between its loops. This indicates lost tension. It also means the spring is no longer able to handle the door’s weight effectively.
On its part, rust causes weakness. This is by eating away the surface. It ends up making it more brittle and prone to snapping.
If you happen to notice any of the aforementioned potential issues, you need to act quickly. The main reason behind this is that continuing to operate a garage door with a spring that is almost breaking can lead to a sudden break. It can even cause potential injury or property damage.
Since you don’t want such issues, you need to call in the experts as soon as you notice something is amiss. When looking for reputable services, consider partnering with APR Garage Doors NJ. We’ll be able to ensure your system operates in a safe and smooth manner.
