Whether your garage door uses extension springs or a torsion spring system, these key components help lift and balance the weight of your door panels. Over time and with repeated use, springs can lose tension or even fail altogether. Thankfully, with some basic inspection and care, homeowners can prevent expensive Garage Door Spring Repair in Mechanicsville down the road. Let’s look at a few maintenance checks you should do regularly.
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Inspect for Rust and Corrosion
Both extension springs, which run parallel along each side, and torsion springs inside the barrel are made of coiled steel. This makes them susceptible to surface oxidation when exposed to moisture over the years. Check for rust spots or flaking paint which could weaken the spring and hasten failure. Touch up bare metal with rust-inhibiting paint.
Measure Spring Tension
Have you noticed your door tracking slower when opening in recent months? This may indicate tension loss in the springs. For extension springs, you can measure the spring stretch versus the number of coils – it should match the factory specs. For torsion springs, use a tension meter tool attached to the winding cone shaft to gauge pounds of tension.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Whether your springs use sliding joints, mounting brackets, or winding cones – all metal parts benefit from a light coating of lubricant. White lithium grease is a good all-around option, applied sparingly to any sliding or pivoting attachments. This prevents squeaks but also protects against corrosion when moisture is present.
Secure All Attachments
Inspect all spring mounting brackets, bolts, cables, and safety components to ensure nothing has shifted out of alignment. Wobbly or loose hardware puts excess stress on vulnerable parts. Tighten any fittings that have come loose with thread locking compound added for long-term holding power.
Check for Stranded Winding
Over extended use, torsion springs can develop places where individual coils rub or bind against one another. This “stranding” effect reduces the spring’s ability to smoothly store and release energy. It’s a sign replacement may be needed to restore proper operation before a failure occurs, avoiding the need for Garage Door Spring Repair in Mechanicsville.
With a little elbow grease inspecting and maintaining your springs twice a year, you can avoid unpleasant breakdowns and get years more dependable service from these critical components. Don’t let small issues turn into expensive repairs – show your springs some TLC to keep your garage door running strong.
Classic cars are David’s canvas, and wrenches are his brushes. He breathes life into vintage beauties with a few loving strokes. David’s blog isn’t just articles; it’s a restoration masterpiece in the making.