Tips to Increase the Lifespan of Your Garage Door Springs
May 24, 2021 | By Quick Response Garage Door Service
The average garage door is heavy and sturdy, requiring springs and a pulley system to keep it in place and from falling. The springs are designed to hold most of the weight and allow owners to handle the doors by hand or provide seamless automatic opener operation. Springs will naturally wear down over time like any part of the garage door system and eventually break. Use the following information to increase the springs’ lifespan and get the most out of the investment.
Garage Door Spring Lifespan
Wear and tear is usually the primary reason springs fail and break down over time. Zinc-coated galvanized steel can resist moisture and rust decently well, but it will lose tensile strength faster than oil-tempered springs.
Rust is the second most common reason springs can fail. When it forms in the spring, rust can cause the spring to become more brittle and break off under pressure. Alternatively, rust can snag on other objects and attract more moisture.
Tips to Increase the Spring Lifespan
The most effective way to get the springs to last for their rated number of cycles is to maintain them regularly.
Applying a lubricant twice a year (or more, depending on how often the doors are used) prevents rust formation and allows the doors to open and close smoothly. Lithium and silicone lubricants are the most common and effective for different garage door types. Check the manufacturer’s manual or contact a qualified garage service for information regarding which lubricant is the best for your doors.
Keeping the doors balanced also plays a significant role in maintaining the spring system. An imbalanced door puts more strain on one spring than the other, wearing them unevenly or putting one of the springs above their bearing capacity. At worse, the doors and the springs can fail and require replacements.
Owners should also consider how much they use their garage doors during the day. If the family leaves with multiple cars during the morning, cycling the garage doors each time wears out the springs more. Leaving them open for a few minutes until the last vehicle leaves can prolong the spring lifespan.
As a last piece of advice, we recommend scheduling regular garage door maintenance with a qualified professional service. A thorough inspection can detect minor issues before they get out of hand and the repair more involved.
Call Quick Response Garage Door Service: we are your Arizona garage door service specialists.
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