Why does garage door spring break

This is the 1 reason why garage door springs fail or break! The average, properly installed torsion springs will last for approximately 10, cycles. A cycle is when the garage door goes up and then goes back down. Even if you were to only leave and come back once throughout the entire day, that still equates to two cycles per day or in a year.

It is even possible to go through 10, cycles in about a year! When rust forms on the garage door springs it can cause the springs to easily break and the life cycle of them to be shortened.

Rust causes friction on the coil and weakens it as well. You can prevent spring breakage due to rust by spraying down the coil with a lubricant every few months we can provide this , which keeps it both lubricated and from building up with rust. Sure, wear and tear can eventually cause the garage door springs to break down. The first thing to do is spray down the coil with lubricant at least three times every year.

Keep reading to get the facts about garage door spring systems, how you can safely identify a problem, and the associated dangers of DIY repair and why we strong discourage it.

The location of your spring system depends on the type of spring configuration your garage door has. You will either have a torsion spring or you can have two extension springs. The torsion spring is a very large spring located just above the garage door.

Typically, new garage door models have a torsion spring. Most of the time springs break due to simple wear and tear over time. However, if your garage is especially humid, rust may form on the spring system and decrease its lifespan unless you have galvanized springs, which are protected from corrosion.

Springs are rated for a specific number of cycles. Each time your garage door opens and closes counts as one cycle. For instance, if a door measuring 9 x 7 ft with a single row of windows weighs lbs, it would have to be counterweighted for a person to lift it with a single hand.

This is where springs can help. With the help of properly balanced springs, the door's total weight should feel no heavier than eight to ten pounds, even if it's a door with an electric garage door opener!

Although they can lift the full weight of a door, electric door openers should only be lifting what a person could lift by hand. Keep in mind, though, if an electric door opener can lift the door's full weight, it will also lower the door with its total weight. Be careful as the door comes down because you don't want to be under it as it falls. Regardless of which system we're talking about, these springs wear out within five to seven years.

Most doors are built with 10,cycle spring systems. Manufacturers define a cycle as one opening and closing.

This means that if you use your door an average of four times a day, you'll go through 1, cycles in just one year. For this reason, if you plan to use your garage door more frequently, you ought to invest in a system with 20, to 25,cycle springs. Though less common, some manufacturers do build their doors with these systems.

No one is perfect. It's always possible that the manufacturer shipped out a defective product, and that's why your door broke. With extension springs, the most likely defect is if the ring at the end of the spring breaks off. Torsion springs can easily rust if improperly galvanized. Another possibility is that the wrong spring was installed on your door. Even with the incorrect calibration, your door may still open and close, but over time, the spring won't be able to withstand the stress of an overly heavy door.

Even if your garage is insulated, springs usually don't benefit from the added protection because they are installed near damp and cold exterior walls.

For homes in frigid environments, also be aware that temperatures below 0 F 0 C can cause the coils to become brittle and snap. This can cause the springs to snap or fall apart. The buildup of rust is an issue as well.

This buildup will increase the coil friction on the moving spring, which will also cause the spring to break. Rust on your garage door springs is especially common in wet or humid climates.

No matter what, your garage door springs will break at some point.