Why Spring Adjustments Increase The Life of Your Door
A garage door that breaks more often than it should may benefit from spring adjustments.
A garage door that breaks more often than it should may benefit from spring adjustments. Here, we'll show you ways you can do routine spring tune-ups yourself, as well as why getting a professional to do a quick and affordable adjustment every 6 months or so is a good idea. We'll also explain how your door works and why spring adjustments help so much.
The Garage Door Spring Does The Work
The springs are actually the part of your garage door that does the most work. The spring takes on most of the door's weight. The opener applies a tiny amount of force by pulling a chain or belt along a track connected to the door. When a spring breaks, it splits in two.
So, now that you know how hard your spring works to make your garage roll up and down daily, it should be a little easier to understand why adjusting the springs can help so much.
Routine Spring Adjustments
Roger, a Veteran Garage Door Technician, says, "Usually the average life of a spring is between 3-5 years, sometimes shorter depending on how much they use it. But the customers that take care of their spring and do routine adjustments and tune-ups will nearly always see a life of 5-7 years."
Springs are tricky because you don't want your spring to be wound up too tight or not wound up enough. They also always have a large amount of torque built up, making them extremely dangerous to work with for the inexperienced.
To a pro, on the other hand, a spring adjustment is no big deal. They can be in and out in minutes and on the same day you called. Adjustments will save you hundreds of dollars because you won't have to pay for a new spring nearly as often.
Okay, so how often should you adjust your garage door spring? It depends on how much you use it, but annual check-ups are usually recommended if it's being used twice or more a day. If you've had a broken garage door before, you understand what a pain that is. Check-ups help make sure you don't have to go through that nearly as often.
Need proof? Let's say you are 35 years old. We'll put your lifespan as a homeowner out to 80 years old. That's 45 years as a homeowner. If a spring adjustment makes your spring last 6 years instead of 3 years, you'll only need around seven brand-new spring installations instead of 15. If a spring installation costs $200, then you saved $1600 minus whatever you spent on adjusting your springs.
White Lithium Grease = A Happy Spring
This won't help ensure that your spring is not wound up too tight or not enough, but it will make it easier for your spring to move. Spraying your spring with White Lithium Grease every couple of weeks or even once a month does wonders for your spring. It helps reduce friction and thus reduces the work your spring has to do.
IMPORTANT NOTE: WD-40 is not the same as White Lithium Grease. What's the difference? White Lithium Grease is a lubricant. You want a good lubricant for your spring if it is going to last. WD-40 is more suitable if you have a squeaky chair or car door. However, White Lithium Grease is also known to reduce the loud squeakiness of your garage door.
Garage door adjustments help make your garage door last longer. They take pressure off the spring (which takes on most of the door's weight) and make sure it's wound just right. You can also use White Lithium Grease to reduce friction and make your spring's job much easier.
Need reliable garage door repair or installation services in Phoenix? Contact Lucky Boy Garage Door, your trusted experts. Let us keep your home secure and functional!
