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Unravel the Truth About Garage Door Springs

Are garage door springs dangerous?

Unravel the Truth About Garage Door Springs

May 15, 2023

Regarding garage doors, safety should always be your top priority. Garage door springs are essential to many garage doors, but you may have heard that they can be dangerous.

Whether you're a homeowner with a single-car garage or a business owner who oversees multiple garages on their property, you need to know whether these components pose any potential risk.

Are garage door springs dangerous? How can you protect yourself and others while using the space? This blog post will look at what makes garage door springs potentially hazardous and provide recommendations for ensuring safe operation.

Uncovering The Potential Dangers

If you're a garage owner, taking the time to comprehend the potential dangers associated with garage door springs is paramount to ensuring the safety of your family and loved ones. Garage door springs, while seemingly innocuous components, can pose significant risks if not handled properly. Delving into this knowledge can empower you with the information you need to create a secure environment for your household. Read on to discover more about these potential hazards and how to mitigate them.

Potential Danger #1: Springs Can Break

Garage door springs are under immense tension and can break during normal use or with age. The danger here is twofold. First, a broken spring can prevent your garage door from opening or closing properly.

Second, when a spring snaps back after breaking, it can cause serious injuries to anyone standing nearby. Therefore, if you suspect your garage door springs are worn out or need replacement, have them inspected by a garage door expert.

Potential Danger #2: Springs Can Rust

Rust is another common issue with garage door springs. When rust builds up on the torsion coils of the spring, it can cause them to corrode and weaken over time.

This corrosion weakens the strength of the spring and increases its chances of breaking during normal operation. Regularly inspecting and lubricating your springs is one way to help protect your investment from rust damage.

Potential Danger #3: Springs Can Slip Out of Place

If a spring slips out of place (or becomes dislodged) during installation or repairs, it could cause serious injury due to its tense state, weight, and size. For this reason, always ensure all installed parts are secure before attempting to operate your garage door system.

Additionally, only hire experienced professionals who know how to safely install or repair your springs to avoid any potential risks associated with improper installation or repairs.

Potential Danger #4: Springs Can Entrap Fingers or Limbs

Garage doors are designed for convenience but, unfortunately, come with an inherent danger for children and pets who may get their fingers or limbs caught in the door's moving parts—namely, the torsion shafts and extension arms that move along with each opening/closing sequence—and injure themselves in the process if not careful.

To prevent this, regularly inspect all moving parts for signs of wear and tear, such as dents or cracks, that could lead to entrapment issues down the line. If necessary, replace any damaged components ASAP using only professionally made parts from trusted manufacturers.

Potential Danger #5: Springs Can Cause Damage to Property

If a spring breaks, the tension released can cause it to fling toward the property and damage it. To protect your property from this kind of damage, inspect all springs regularly and replace worn or may need repairs.

Additionally, if you ever notice any signs of wear or tear on your garage door system’s components, especially its springs, have them inspected and repaired by a qualified technician as soon as possible to avoid potential damages down the line.

How to Protect Yourself from Dangerous Garage Door Springs

an image showing a gentleman fixing garage door springs

Garage door springs are essential to the function of your garage door, but they can also be dangerous. Are garage door springs dangerous? They can be. If these springs break or malfunction, they can cause serious injury or property damage.

It is, therefore, essential that you know how to protect yourself from these potentially harmful components. Keep reading for six tips on how to keep yourself safe!

1. Know Your Springs

Different types of garage doors require different types of springs, and it is important to be familiar with the type of spring your garage door uses. Knowing what kind of spring you have will help you identify any potential issues before they arise. Additionally, knowing which type you have will make it easier to find replacement parts should something happen.

2. Inspect Your Springs Regularly

Part of keeping yourself safe is being mindful and proactive about caring for your garage door springs. Inspect them regularly for signs of wear and tear, such as rust or fraying cables. If you notice anything unusual, contact a professional technician for further assistance.

3.  Look Out For Red Flags

Pay attention to any strange noises coming from your garage when opening or closing the door, and watch out for any unusual movements like jerking or shaking when moving up and down.

These could be signs that something is wrong with your springs and should be inspected by a professional as soon as possible. Additionally, if you ever notice that one side of your garage door looks higher, this could indicate an issue with the springs and should be addressed immediately.

4. Take Precautions When Working On The Springs

If you must work on your own regarding the springs, take all necessary safety precautions beforehand, such as wearing protective eyewear, gloves, long sleeves/pants, closed-toe shoes, etc.

Additionally, make sure that any children or pets in the area are away from where you are working so there is no danger of them getting hurt while repairs are done. Only attempt to repair broken springs with proper training. Doing so could lead to even more serious injuries if not done correctly!

5. Don’t Try To Adjust The Tension On Your Own

Tension levels must remain consistent for the garage door opener motor to function properly. Attempting DIY adjustments can lead to broken cables and other component failures, which could result in serious injury or property damage. Instead, leave this task up to a professional who can properly adjust tension levels without compromising safety standards.

6. Contact A Professional Immediately If Something Seems Wrong

Suppose at any point something does not seem right with your garage door system, whether related directly to the springs or otherwise. In that case, you must contact a professional immediately.

It’ll ensure further problems do not arise due to neglecting warning signs when they first appear! Waiting too long can result in further damage, which may require more time & money spent on repairs than had action been taken promptly instead.

Understanding The Mechanics Of A Garage Door Spring

What exactly is a garage door spring? What does it do, and why is it important? Understanding the mechanics behind your garage door spring can help you maintain your garage door and keep it running smoothly. Let’s dive into the hidden mechanics behind this vital component of your garage.

The Purpose of a Garage Door Spring

A garage door spring helps balance the garage door's weight, making it easier to open and close. Without a spring, you would have to put in more effort to lift the heavy weight of the door every time you wanted to enter or exit your garage.

How does the spring do this? It uses torsion—a type of force that is created when two objects rotate around an axis.

A torsion bar, connected to the bottom of your garage door, stores energy released when you open or close your garage door. It helps reduce the energy needed to move the heavy weight of the door up or down.

Types of Garage Door Springs

Two types of springs are used in most residential garages today: extension and torsion springs. Extension springs are attached on either side at both ends of the horizontal track on top of your garage opening.

As you can probably guess from its name, torsion springs are above your overhead doors' closed position. They extend along a bar parallel with your tracks as they twist and turn when you move your overhead doors up or down. Tension springs are also sometimes used but are less common than their counterparts.

Maintenance Tips For Garage Door Springs

For a garage to function properly, regular maintenance is essential. If not replaced in a timely manner, worn or damaged parts can result in costly repairs. Inspecting your garage door springs regularly will ensure that everything is working correctly with no signs of wear and tear or damage to any related components (like hinges).

You should also lubricate moving parts regularly, as this will help prevent rust from forming over time, which can affect how well they operate overall. Lastly, be sure that any adjustments made are done by someone with experience in such work so as not to cause any further harm to these valuable components.

an image showing a garage door with a door spring

Conclusion

As you can now see, garage door springs can be quite dangerous. They can cause severe damage or injury if not used and maintained correctly. However, knowing their mechanics and taking proper safety precautions can eliminate any potential danger associated with these powerful components. Understanding their structure and the fundamental concepts behind them is an invaluable asset when dealing with garage doors and their various working parts.

If you ever have a question or issue about your garage door springs, it's always best to consult a garage door professional for assistance. They can help diagnose potential problems and suggest the next steps to keep everyone in your household safe from accidents. No matter what state your garage door is in, safety should always come first!

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