Torison Spring Safety and Tips if it breaks

After years of use, the garage door spring suffers wear and tear just like anything. Depending on the position of the door, if a torsion spring breaks, it can cause quite a bit of damage. If the door is down, there is a lot of tension in the spring. If it breaks, all of that tension is released as it unwinds.

Broken garage door torsion springs are one of the most common repairs to garage doors. Garage Door Commander recommends that ALL of your door components, including torsion springs, should be inspected once a year to prevent unexpected breakdowns.

Torison Spring Safety

However, if you suspect that any of your garage door components are in need of repair please consult a professional garage door repair specialist. The most dangerous garage door component is the torsion spring. A torsion spring mishap can result in serious injury or even death.

If you try to use the opener, you could destroy the motor, break the chain, or cause other opener part damage. Now you have a broken torsion spring and you’ll have to install a new opener.

Even if you happen to be the strongest man in the world, it’s best to have at least two people opening the door together. If the door is lifted unevenly, it could damage the panels of the door or the tracks that the panels are attached to each side. Once again – these doors are heavy! Uneven lifting will put undue strain on the garage door parts.

Getting the door off the ground will be the hardest part of the lift. Once a few of the panels have made it to the horizontal part of the overhead tracks, they will be supported and the door will get lighter. Please be careful! You do not want the garage door to come crashing down if you lose your grip on the door.

If you must lower the door, do so slowly and make sure children and pets are well away. The door will pick up speed and weight as more panels are in a vertical position. But it’s important to be smooth and steady.

We run into this alot with our customers at Garage Door Commander in Charlotte and Greensboro. So if the door doesn't want to open, don't make it open. A few hundred dollars could turn into thousands in a second.