There are various activities in people’s daily lives that some tend to take for granted. These include things at home like running water, heating and cooling systems, and a properly working garage door. What many homeowners fail to realise, however, is that neglecting to maintain these things, for example, the garage door motors in their Cairn home, can lead to costly damages and repairs.
There are several reasons your garage door suffers from damage. After all, your garage door is not permanent. Even a small problem with its springs can already cause it to malfunction. To help you understand better, learn about the things that usually cause the springs of a garage door to break.
They were worn out
Like everything else, your garage door springs will also wear out over time. The average cycle life of typical garage door springs is 10,000, with every period being one closing and one opening of the door. This means that if you use the garage door at last four cycles per day, you will have to replace the springs after almost seven years of use.
They developed rust
Your garage door springs are susceptible to rust, too. Any rust development can cut the door’s lifespan by several years. It tends to weaken the coiled spring and increases the amount of friction that it gets. Thus, causing it to wear out much faster. One way to solve this problem is to spray the springs with WD-40 several times a year to prevent rust from developing.
You failed to maintain them regularly
Although garage door springs do not require thorough maintenance, they still need some level of care now and then. Spraying them with an anti-rust component gives them an additional layer of protection. Also, you should check the balance of the garage door every year. Lift the garage door about halfway through and then let it go. The door should remain in its spot if the springs are still in tip-top condition.
The extension springs have stretched over time
It is also possible that the springs have already stretched out. You can quickly check it by looking at the space between the coils when you close the doors. If the springs fail to work without breaking the space between the coils, then it will become inconsistent. If you notice any visible signs, it is best to have the springs replaced.
There have been sudden temperature changes
Although garage door springs can break at any season, most cases commonly happen during the winter season. The metal tends to contract due to the sudden drop in temperature. It means that the door springs can shrink slightly during the cold season, causing them to be more prone to breakage.
Understanding the causes why your garage door springs break is essential to your garage door maintenance. These springs do almost all the heavy lifting for your door, whether it is operated automatically or manually. If you notice any loud sounds or any deformity in its shape, then it is best to replace it or contact a garage door expert for repairs.
