Your garage door spring won't last forever. Here are the warning signs it's about to fail — and why you should deal with it before it snaps.
Springs don't just break out of nowhere. There are usually warning signs for weeks or even months beforehand. Here's what to watch for.
Most torsion springs last about 10,000 cycles — that's one open and one close. If you use your garage door four times a day, you're looking at roughly seven years before the spring's worn out. Here's how to tell when yours is getting close.
First, try lifting the door manually (disconnect the opener first). If it feels heavier than it used to, the spring is losing tension. A balanced door should stay put when you lift it halfway. If it drops, that's a problem. Second, listen for squeaking or creaking — some noise is normal, but if it's getting louder, the spring is wearing out.
Check for rust on the coils. Living in Colorado, moisture and temperature swings take a toll on metal. Rust weakens the spring and speeds up the wear. A little white lithium grease goes a long way. Also watch for the door opening unevenly — one side going up faster than the other usually means one spring is weaker.