It may come as a surprise, but in current times people use their garage doors more than their front doors even for the main entry and exit point of their home. Obviously, since garage doors are so frequently used, one should not neglect the state of their garage doors. Undoubtedly, safety and caution are the focus when installing or getting a garage door back in shape.
Yet another major hassle is to find a service which provides top-notch services, not only during installation but also for repair. Regardless of residential or commercial garage door services the main trouble is always with springs. Take into consideration that you need to make sure that you ask for help from the garage door spring repair service.
What are Garage Door Springs?
As a rule we tend to look after all household items, however, a garage door is something that is rarely discussed. Spring is the hardest and most prone part of a garage door for breakage. Usually, springs wear out because they carry much tension and lighten the load of the door. The tension which the springs have makes the process of opening doors more smooth and easier. Moreover, the spring enables lifting the garage door in case of emergency or power outage. According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, around 2,000 people break, damage or crush their garage doors annually.
Since the spring is hidden in the door itself, the main sign of damage is when the door refuses to lift with the opener or by hand. Another sign would be rust which often appears on the spring itself and then spreads to all moving parts. Also, an additional warning sign is the sound of the opener.
Try to have a little inspection yourself and if all mentioned signs are present then consider spring repair and replacement at STI Garage Door Company.
Another detail to know about is the types of spring and their appliance:
- Torsion is a metal coil that lifts the entire garage door which is wrapped around a bar above the door. Torsion twists while extension springs expand and compress.
- Extension is another metal coil which is secured by safety cables and is located on both sides of the upper track.
Earlier it was prefered to have extension springs built in the garage doors but these days it is a more common practice to opt for torsion springs in more modern versions of the garage doors. Should one own an outdated and older version of garage doors, they would better replace the spring with a torsion type.
It is vital to check the state regularly, hence habitual checkup can show the root of the problem and can help solve the problem faster. Here is the list of the most common issues:
1. Lack of maintenance
Among innumerable issues it takes the first place because it is the easiest in being prevented. Surely, with time and use garage doors break and deteriorate, yet one can prolong its lifespan. Keep in mind that the most paramount tip is to check the whole unit, not only springs but also tracks, fasteners, cables and wheels. Another piece of advice would be to clean and lube overhead garage door torsion and extension springs since it prevents corrosion.
2. Rust
As discussed earlier, performing annual checkups and tuneups on a garage door can prevent many issues. However, if torsion and extension springs are rusted they may be salvageable. Rust develops on springs for the reason that garage doors are made of metal. If the garage door is not properly maintained then it will not last 5 years because rust increases the amount of friction on the parts of the garage door and weakens the coils. If there is a limited amount of rust on the surface of the spring try scrubbing it off with a gentle cleaner. On the other hand, turn to STI Garage Door who can rapidly identify any problem and accurately fix it.
3. Daily wear and tear
Yet another grand issue in failure of a garage door spring is nothing else than wear and tear. Broadly speaking, the common lifespan of the majority of springs is 10,000 cycles, where one cycle equals the garage door going up and down while opening and closing. The number may seem vast, however, with the advent of use on a daily basis it finishes in no time flat. Take into account that if your garage door serves as a front door that decaying happens faster. Advanced garage doors come with more engineered and extended lifespan which lasts about 20,000 cycles.
Spring replacement costs
There are a couple of factors which affect the garage door spring replacement service. However, the main ones are parts and labor. In rough numbers it cost between 150 and 300 USD. Nevertheless, let’s take a look at all factors:
- Number of garage doors
- Labour
- Materials
- Location
Try to replace all springs on all garage doors at the same time if they have a similar lever of use. It will help you to keep track of the duration of springs depending on the utilization. Never consider replacing only one of two springs because it will eventually lead to another unpredictable break.
Replacing springs requires hard labor, ability to work under pressure, and many special tools. When looking for a company which can provide you with such a type of service, do ask them to provide a quote which will include all materials such as springs, brackets, etc., hardware and labor costs. Take into account that at least two technicians will work on site for safety reasons.
Be aware that your location will affect and change the cost completely. If there are many contractors at your location then the overall price will rise in comparison with areas with less broad choice. Additionally, you may pay more if you are situated in an urban area where the cost of living is higher by default. However, in a rural area the price may vary if the commune is quite far.
All in all, the major takeaway would be to ask real professionals for aid and professional work.
