Garage door springs carry most of the weight of a garage door, making it easier to lift. They also help control the lifting and lowering process, ensuring your door operates smoothly while keeping it in place when it’s open. Given their important role, keeping them in good condition is crucial.
Viking Overhead has serviced thousands of garage door springs in Burleson, Fort Worth and the surrounding areas, and we confidently share our expertise on how to maintain garage door springs. Here are four easy steps for maintaining your springs.
Fort Worth experiences hot summers and cool winters. These temperature fluctuations can increase spring stress, while the humid weather in the area may weaken metal springs. For this reason, you should inspect your springs often. Regardless of where you live, it’s important to perform the following inspections regularly:
Are your springs effectively balancing the weight of your door? To check, disconnect your garage door opener from the door by pulling the release handle and then manually open the door halfway. If the door stays put, your springs are doing their job. However, if the door opens or closes on its own, it is improperly balanced.
Step four gives more information about adjusting the tension of springs for proper balance, but it is best to assign this task to a professional.
Many people go years without lubricating their springs, but this is an essential garage door spring maintenance task. Lubricated springs can extend the service life of your garage door and help keep it operating smoothly. It’s best to lubricate garage door springs once or twice a year. Here’s how to do it:
A quality lubricant for garage door springs prevents rust and corrosion, reduces friction and enables smooth operation. We recommend one of the following products:
While you may be tempted to use products you already have at hand, such as WD-40, they can damage your garage door system. WD-40 is an excellent cleaner that effectively cleans rust but may remove existing lubricants and dry out your springs. It is also prone to dust and dirt buildup.
Here’s how to lubricate your springs:
While it’s crucial to lubricate your springs, you should also add lubricant to other garage door parts. When all the parts are well-lubricated, it decreases stress on your garage door opener and assists in smooth operation.
You’d want to lubricate:
Be sure not to lubricate the tracks, which can cause the rollers to slide.
With continual use, garage door springs may lose tension, resulting in slow or uneven opening and closing. Adjusting your spring tension is crucial for proper balance and smooth functioning, but it requires proper knowledge and expertise — the wrong adjustments can damage your garage door or lead to severe injuries. While your garage door manual offers instructions on adjusting your spring tension, a professional is best equipped to balance your door safely.
Most springs have a service life of about 10,000 cycles of opening and closing. It’s best to replace old springs or those with visible damage and wear and tear as soon as possible. While only one spring may get damaged, you need to replace both springs simultaneously for optimal balance. A garage door professional can help you choose appropriate springs for your garage door and install them for you.
Viking Overhead maintains residential garage doors and also services commercial doors. Our trained technicians can help keep your springs in good condition and adjust your spring tension to extend the service life of your garage door. While we offer superb garage door spring maintenance, we’re also here for emergency repairs. Call our team anytime. We’re available 24/7 to repair your garage door and replace broken springs. Contact us online to find out more about our services or request a free estimate today.
Have a look at these FAQs for more information about servicing garage door springs.
Yes. We suggest you apply the 400-HD National Door Lube or the 3-IN-ONE Garage Door Lube once or twice a year. Well-lubricated springs ensure smoother operation, more reliable functionality and enhanced safety. Lubricating your springs once or twice a year can also extend their service life.
Standard degreasers like WD-40 are excellent cleaners, but they can remove existing lubricants, essentially drying out your springs. Dry springs can lead to friction, shortening their life cycle.
The best options are the 400-HD National Door Lube or the 3-IN-ONE Garage Door Lube. These products will not harm your springs and adhere well to metal, offering long-lasting protection.
