Your garage door spring is essential for your opener to work. The spring does the heavy lifting and lowers the door slowly and safely. Springs last a long time, but they may not last as long as your garage door.

The lifetime of a spring depends on how much you use your door, so the years of life will vary from home to home. When the spring breaks or unwinds, it has to be replaced. Here are signs the spring is bad and more to know about garage door spring repair.

The Door May Not Open With A Bad Spring

When the garage door spring is bad, it might not open at all. The door might open partially or be uneven as it rises or lowers. If the spring is going bad, but is still working, the door may be jerky as it moves along the track. If you notice a jerky door, call a garage door repair service before the spring breaks completely.

The door may also feel a lot heavier when the spring is bad. A garage door is heavy and dangerous. If the spring is bad, the door may lower fast and be a hazard.

It's best to stay away from a garage door that has a bad spring. Also, DIY repairs are not recommended due to the hazardous nature of a bad spring that's under a lot of tension.

There Are Two Types Of Garage Door Springs

Your garage door will either have extension springs or a torsion spring. The extension springs are on the sides of the door with one on each side. The springs stretch and contract to raise or lower the door. If one spring goes bad, the repair contractor will probably replace both at the same time so they raise the door evenly.

A torsion spring is on the top of your garage door on a horizontal bar. It attaches to cables on each side of the door. The spring unwinds and winds to cause the cables to lower or raise the door. Both types of springs hold tension and can be dangerous when attempting DIY repairs.

The Right Size Spring Is Needed

Since garage doors come in different sizes and are made of different materials, some are heavier than others. It's essential for the spring repair contractor to choose the right spring for the replacement. If a spring isn't strong enough for a big door, the opener may wear out prematurely. The contractor chooses the new spring based on the size and weight of the garage door.

For more information, visit a site like https://shankdoor.com or contact a professional near you.