Garage Door Springs Replacement

If you're something of a handyman around the house, then fixing things when they go wrong is probably second nature to you. When it comes to some of the more specialized things like garage door springs and their replacement, its either one of those thing you know how to do or its not. If you're not sure about replacing garage door springs when they need replacing, then you should probably call on a professional installer to come out and do the job for you. Its a safety precaution that can't be beat but one that you have to make the call yourself.

However, if you are of a mind to have a crack at garage door springs replacement yourself, then this might make things a little easier for you. If nothing else, it'll show you that doing something like this is possible, although some precautions need to be followed and I'll outline them right here in the next chapter.

Garage Door Springs Replacement Precautions

As a timely word of warning should you be considering doing this job for yourself, you might want to read the following paragraph carefully first, just so you know whet that dangers are.

There have been countless unfortunate incidents involving unskilled, semi-skilled and less knowledgeable householders who have brought danger to themselves by attempting to replace faulty or broken garage door springs by themselves. Severe injuries such as breaks in the neck, deep lacerations, single and multiple bone fractures and on occasion even death has occurred. This is all because these people believed they were adequately competent and capable of fixing the garage door springs themselves. Even qualified repair men who actually knew what they were doing have on occasion not been spared from the unfortunate results of these kind of accidents.

So now you know what might be lying in wait for you, you might as well know what you're actually up against.

Garage Door Springs DIY Dangers

Torsion springs such as those used in garage doors are high tension devices that lift the majority of the weight of a garage door. This allows the door to be opened manually or using an electric opening device. The springs are mounted above the top of the garage door and they experience the tremendous forces placed upon them each time the garage door opens or closes. Over time, the springs will crack and break and when this happens the spring releases its stored energy in one swift snap. A person should not be anywhere close to the upper part of the garage door, especially when it is opening or closing. This is even more important if the door is operated manually.

When the springs are working properly, the door will appear almost weightless and very easy to open and close for most people. However, this is merely an illusion that may become a calamity should the springs suddenly fail for any reason.This is one of those jobs that is best left to a professional fitter, but if you are sure that you know what you are doing, then make sure that you exercise extreme caution.

Should torsion springs need adjusting, this job should be carried out while the garage door is in the closed position while the springs are under tension. Be sure you have all your tools with you before you close the door (unless you have alternative access to the garage). You should also wear eye protection and gloves to protect your hands. be extremely cautious when adjusting the spring tension, as it could snap back at you and if you don't get out of the way quickly enough it can hit you very hard indeed.

Hard enough to kill you.

Never try to weld broken garage door springs, always replace damaged or faulty springs with new ones. When only one spring is faulty, set out to replace them both at the same time as when one is worn enough to fail, the other may be getting ready to fail as well.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter and make sure all buts and bolts are securely tightened after installation. But the best advice is to avoid doing this job yourself and get a professional in to do it instead. It might cost you some more cash, but that could be cash well spent if to save it means a long stay in hospital or an even longer stay in a cemetery.