Your garage door springs are under extreme tension and won't last forever. Most torsion springs last 10,000-15,000 cycles (about 7-10 years of normal use). Here are the signs yours are on the way out:
1. The door feels heavier than usual. If your door suddenly seems harder to lift manually, the springs are losing tension. A properly balanced door should stay in place when lifted halfway.
2. You hear loud banging or popping sounds. A spring that's about to break will often make noise, such as creaking, popping, or grinding, especially when the door is moving.
3. The door opens unevenly or crooked. If one side lifts faster than the other, one spring may be weaker. This puts extra stress on the other spring and your opener.
4. Visible gaps in the spring coils. Look at your torsion spring above the door. If you see a gap or separation in the coils, the spring has already broken or is about to.
5. The door slams shut or won't stay open. If your door drops quickly when closing or won't hold at the halfway point, the springs can't counterbalance the weight anymore.
Never try to replace springs yourself. They are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury. If you notice any of these signs, call us for a same-day inspection.