The value of having a garage lies primarily in the fact that the attached door helps protect what’s inside against the elements. Keeping that door maintained in proper working order requires continually checking certain areas of it, including the garage door springs.
The spring’s main job is to wind and unwind, based on the movement of the door, but at some point, it may break or simply be worn out by rust. Broken garage door springs need to be replaced as quickly as possible, since leaving it unattended invites potential disaster from criminals or harsh weather.
While garage door springs replacements are available at any home improvement store, it’s best to not even consider handling a job of this type on your own. That’s because far too many people lack the experience and ability to make repairs of this sort, which is something that can turn such into a tragedy.
The Danger of Extension Springs
There are two type of springs that are part of every garage door, the torsion and the extension. In the latter case, this is what allows the garage door to move up and down, which means that any attempt at DIY garage spring replacements in this area could potentially put the life of the amateur handyman at risk.
Due to the danger of the spring snapping, any damage or destruction of the door could result in costly repairs or even replacement. That’s because this type of repair needs to be done with the door open, which means that the door could come crashing down. Such a scenario brings with it other major concerns as well.
Anyone who happens to be underneath an open door that has had DIY garage spring replacements installed runs the risk of being killed. That’s because there are no guarantees in such a process, since the person doing it was not a trained professional. The end result means that the excessive weight of the door could potentially kill anyone who has the misfortune to be underneath it.
Torsion Springs Trouble
When it comes to trouble with torsion garage door springs, the door remains a danger, but the spring itself also has the potential to also inflict severe injury or death. That’s because broken garage door springs of this sort have built up a great deal of energy (or tension) from going up and down over the years.
The lifespan for these springs is anywhere from five to seven years or 10,000 cycles, depending on the level of activity. When it’s time to replace them, the task of installing garage door spring replacements on your own may not look challenging. However, you should resist the idea of saving money by handling the job yourself.
The reason is two-fold: one is related to the need for all sorts of specific equipment that needs to be used for installation. That can be a burden on its own, but the true danger comes when trying to remove the springs.
Too many people try to perform DIY garage spring replacements with a socket wrench or screwdriver when fixing broken garage door springs. An error here can result in multiple broken bones in the hand or worse, the spring snapping back with rapid force. In the latter case, that might mean disfigurement, severe injury or even death.
In short, leaving the issue of installing garage door spring replacements to the professionals eliminates all the above concerns. Whatever the cost savings might be, the dangers connected to garage door springs simply aren’t worth the price.
