For a Lincoln, NE homeowner, the last thing they needed was for their garage door to break. However, with the crucial role that it played in keeping the garage door secured, its springs were in desperate need of immediate repair service. Omaha Garage Door Repair moved quickly with the necessary project material and supplies to finish the job quickly and efficiently. After thoroughly inspecting and analyzing the spring, we determined that rust and corrosion had caused the breakdown. We replaced the old and broken spring with a new one and informed the homeowner about all preventative measures to ensure that rust and corrosion do not occur again. In the end, the homeowner felt confident in their new garage door security system, knowing experts completed the garage door repair swiftly and correctly.
Did you know a typical garage door weighs between 130 and 400 pounds? Even the lightest garage door needs a fair amount of force to open. Fortunately, garage door springs balance the door’s weight and do all the heavy lifting for you. When you open and shut your garage door, the door’s weight is put on the spring system. Because of this, a broken spring can be very dangerous, and it is not a good idea for a homeowner to try to fix or replace a spring on their own.
Two types of springs are used on garage doors—torsion and extension—and each is installed in a different location.
Torsion springs are mounted horizontally above the garage door and use a winding system to store tension. That allows them to open much more smoothly and reliably than other types of springs. Extension springs run along either side of the overhead track and use coils to create tension. They provide stability and balance for heavier garage doors but can often require more maintenance than torsion springs due to the higher level of wear and tear. Either one or two springs can be used, depending on the door's size and weight.
One of the biggest contributing factors to broken springs is age. A garage door spring typically lasts 8 to 12 years but can fail sooner if used frequently or abused with too much weight. Over time, these springs tend to break due to normal wear and tear. That is usually caused by rusting or corrosion, which can weaken the metal until it breaks. Improper lubrication or tensioning of springs can also be another cause of spring breakage. Without adequate lubrication and tension, the springs will eventually lose elasticity and cannot support the garage door’s weight, causing it to break. Another common cause of failure is improper tension. If a spring has too much tension, it will be put under extreme stress, leading to premature failure. In addition, springs that have not been properly maintained can become brittle and snap.
If you are wondering how long a garage door spring should last, the answer depends on the quality and type of springs you have and their cycle rating. Generally, you can expect torsion springs found in residential garages to last around 10,000 cycles before needing replacement — one cycle equals one opening and closing of the door. Extension springs have a shorter average lifespan, ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 cycles. Finally, high-quality springs made with heat-treated steel may last up to 30,000 cycles. Generally, if you open and close your garage door twice daily, these springs could last anywhere from 5 to 10 years for torsion springs and 2 to 5 years for extension springs.
For homeowners in Omaha and Lincoln, NE looking for quality garage door repair services, look no further than Omaha Garage Door Repair. Our highly skilled technicians are experts in garage door spring replacement and other common repairs. We use only the highest quality replacement springs to ensure our clients get a reliable, long-lasting repair. Plus, we offer free estimates on all our services, so you can get the help you need at an affordable price. So call us today, and let us show you the difference quality makes!