To replace springs, you’ll need to follow by next points:
- Prepare the doors;
- Unscrew the old springs;
- Remove old springs;
- Remove lift cables;
- Attach new springs;
- Reattach lift cables;
- Tighten the springs;
- Last fixation of springs;
- Final work.
Garage doors demand repair from time to time, and one of the essential items is the replacement of springs. It’s important to change any door’s components of your garage when they need to be replaced. If you won’t do it on time you can face a situation such as completely blocking the doors. Also, you probably store valuable things in your garage, so it must be securely closed in your absence.
This article will walk you through the steps you must follow to properly and felicitously change the springs.
When Your Garage Door Spring Needs to Be Replaced
Define the signs of broken springs:
- You hear the door opener begin to be tense to lift the door.
- During the breakage of the old spring, the door might slam shut. It also signals that the owner must replace the springs.
- You hear a loud sound like a shot due to a broken spring. Also at this point, the garage door becomes too heavy, difficult to open manually, and the automatic opener stops working altogether.
As we have already said, the door’s components need to be checked from time to time and replaced if necessary. Do not forget that, you should replace both springs if one of them is damaged. If you hear strange sounds from doors, squeaking, or that they have become harder to close, inspect the springs.
Some important points in replacements of the door’s components
If you have understood that the door’s components demand a replacement you must follow the safety precautions, which consist of the next rules:
- Do not disconnect the garage door opener by pulling the red emergency release handle while the door is open. In this case, it may collapse.
- Do not leave the door open when the spring is broken, as someone may try to close it without knowing that it is broken. This is a dangerous situation.
- If you need to leave the door open, clamp it on both sides with heavy objects and disable the door opener.
- Close the door with the opener if you are sure there is nothing next to it.
- Asking someone you know to hold the door while you work to keep yourself and those around you safe.
Tools you need to replace the garage door torsion springs
When you realize that you still need to replace the springs, you’ll need to prepare the certain tools for making repair:
- Stepladder;
- 2 clips, in the form of the letter C;
- Safety goggles for technical work;
- Work gloves;
- Adjustable wrenches;
- Pliers;
- New pair of springs;
- Spray for lubricating garage doors;
- New cables.
Be sure to wear safety goggles and work gloves so you can protect yourself from infection and small debris getting into your eyes.
Also, we advise you to buy a pair of springs even if you do not plan to change them. Spring breakage can happen at the most inopportune moment, making you nervous.
In addition to springs, other components may break over time, so we advise you to buy a kit consisting, for example, of springs, cables, pulleys, and mounting brackets. If you have any doubts that these components are inoperable, replace them too.
How to replace Torsion Springs?
So when you are convinced that you have to do a replacement the spring and prepare the necessary tools, you have to follow the next steps:
- Prepare the doors
Use the “C” clips inside the rails to close the doors. Remove the door closing device.
- Unscrew the old springs
Insert the end of the wrapping bar into the bottom lug on the wrapping cone. Hold the bar and loosen the set screws. Alternate the bars for winding into different cone holes, while unwinding the springs.
- Remove old springs
When you have unscrewed the springs to the end – disconnect it from the central mounting bracket using an open-end or adjustable wrench. Slide it down over the bars.
- Remove lift cables
Take the pliers and fix the torsion bar in the center bracket. Disconnect the lift cables from the door brackets. Loosen the set screws, then slide the cable drums off the torsion bar and remove the old springs from the torsion bar. If the cable is also worn out, now is the time to replace it.
- Attach new springs;
Put it on the torsion bar. Attach the mounting cones to the center mounting bracket.
- Attach lift cables
Attach the lift cables to the brackets at the bottom of the door. Put cable drums on the ends of the torsion bar. If the cable does not sag, tighten the set screws on the torsion bar.
- Tighten the springs
Take two winding bars and twist the winding cone and torsion spring with them. It usually requires 30 to 36 turns per quarter.
- Fix new springs
Hammer the side of the winding to force the cons against the torsion bar a quarter of an inch. While holding the pin, tighten the set screws half a turn.
- Perform final installation
Apply spray lubricant to the springs. Remove the clamps, connect the door opener and check the operation of the door.
We have provided you with the necessary steps that can help you to replace the garage door’s components. Still, but if you can not do this, it is better to call the master.
It is better to call the professional craftsman
Our company provides appliance repair services. If you need help, our specialists will come and perform work quickly, efficiently, and at loyal prices. To ensure speedy diagnosis and repairs, our firm uses designated service vans. We also help with the repair of household appliances such as:
- Refrigerators;
- Microwaves;
- Ovens;
- Washing machines;
- Dryers.
This is not a complete list of our services. We work with all types of household appliances, as well as service electric, propane and gas equipment. The complete info about our services and the story of our company you can find on our website. Go to our website to view our repair services and read interesting and useful articles. We’re always glad to help you!
FAQ
Correctly installed springs for garage doors should last about 10,000 cycles of opening and closing them. On average, garage door owners change springs every 14-15 years.
The maximum service life of torsion springs varies from 7 to 12 years, depending on their quality and operation.
Replacing all springs for garage doors takes about 30 – 60 minutes. It depends on the type of the springs, their size and amount of the springs you need to fix.
Usually, a single garage door has one torsion spring. If you have a double-wide garage door it will need two springs. However, if you have a single door, but it’s very heavy it may has two torsion springs.
