A broken garage door isn’t something you want on your way in or out. You can access your property if you know how to open your garage door when a spring is broken, but with the risk involved, you’ll want professional garage door repair in Louisville, Kentucky.
Action Overhead Door, Inc.’s ample experience lends some credibility here to suggest a temporary solution – a way to get your garage door open after a spring malfunction. Need to access your garage before the repair crew arrives? Take a look at the steps below.
Figure Out Which Type of Spring Broke
You can likely still operate your door manually, assuming no other parts went wrong. First, look at the type of spring.
Most modern garage doors have either torsion springs or extension springs. While these types function similarly, the springs connect differently. We’ll explore both kinds below.
Torsion Springs Store Energy
Torsion springs look like the pointy barbs on a barbed wire fence. These springs have two points, with a central spring coil above the garage door. “Torsion” refers to how the spring stores energy to pull the door upward from its closed position.
Extension Springs Stretch
Extension springs look like cylindrical tubes with a traditional spring-like structure. Installers mount them on the sides of the door panel, where they stretch and coil to enable opening and closing cycles. You’ll open the broken door more easily if your setup has extension vs. torsion springs.
Steps for How To Open Your Garage Door When a Spring Is Broken
How can you open your garage door safely with a problematic spring? Safety first!
- Engage the emergency release cord. This red or orange cord hangs from the ceiling-mounted opener. Pull it to disable the mechanism.
- Gather two other people for balance and heavy lifting assistance. Neighbors or capable family members should assist in lifting and aligning the door as you’re opening it.
- Wear steel-toed boots and gloves. Protect your feet and hands. Accidentally dropping the heavy door could cause serious injuries.
Ready to proceed safely? Read the next lot of instructions below.
Opening a Door With a Broken Torsion Spring Needs a Steady Hand
Experts advise caution with a broken torsion spring as they do the following:
- Engage the manual release mechanism.
- Apply vice grips to hold the cord in place if it slips.
- Open the door from the inside.
- Slowly raise the panel.
- Keep the bottom of the door level.
Have you managed to slide up the garage door? Try securing the door in an open position until the emergency repair service shows up.
Remember, torsion springs stay under tremendous pressure and may resist lifting. If one suddenly snaps, it can fly in any direction. Springs also make startling noises as they break.
Dealing With a Snapped Extension Spring
Knowing how to open your garage door when the spring is broken should help you, regardless of the type of door. Still, opening the door with broken extension springs may prove a little easier than torsion-spring doors.
You’ll enable the garage door opener disengagement function like before. This time, however, put one person on the right, another on the left, and one in the middle for balanced force. Once you’ve lifted the door into position, secure it until help arrives.
What If You Need To Keep Your Garage Door Closed?
Would you feel better locking up your building or belongings? You can easily close the door in the same way as you opened it – with help from two other people.
Gently pull the garage door from its overhead slot. Guide it downward to rest on the floor. Then, reactivate the garage door opener to secure the area against potential trespassers.
When To Leave Your Garage Door Well Alone
The above instructions can help you out in a pinch. Still, some circumstances will prove that tampering with the door causes more problems than it solves. For instance:
- Other broken components: Are there parts beyond the springs needing repair? The door may behave unpredictably, even after engaging its manual operation mechanism. Get expert help.
- Active warranties: Besides dangerous mistakes, a non-professional handling your garage door will likely nullify your warranty. Before following this guide on how to open your garage door when the spring is broken, read your warranty’s fine print. If the policy won’t cover damage from manual lifting, don’t try it.
- Health and safety precautions: If you struggle with back problems or health concerns, manually lifting garage doors isn’t worth it. You likely have other ways to enter and exit your home, but you cannot replace your mobility.
Don’t try to mend broken springs. These springs connect to cables that pull the door open and closed. It’s rarely as simple as replacing one broken spring.
Why Do Garage Door Springs Break?
The reasons behind those broken springs might include the following:
- Incorrect spring size: Did an unskilled technician choose springs that are too big or small? Big springs rub other components. Undersized ones won’t support your garage door’s weight.
- Poor tension capabilities: A spring with higher tension than needed might yank the door too hard and overstretch. A spring with too little tension forces the whole system to work harder to lift the panels, putting strain on every part.
- Rust and corrosion: Excess moisture can quickly damage metal components, and springs are no exception. Rust weakens and breaks the metal.
- Fluctuating temperatures: Metal expands and contracts with temperatures. This cycle can weaken the springs.
- Normal wear and tear: Maintained springs might last ten years at the most. You’ll eventually have to replace them.
Tune-ups protect all system components while ensuring your mechanism follows the required garage door provisions and local regulations. Skipping garage door maintenance is a big risk.
Action Overhead Door Inc. Can Fix Springs and Garage Doors Anytime
Now that you know how to open your garage door when the spring is broken, you should be able to access your home or business despite garage door challenges. All that’s left is to call 502-955-7725 for Action Overhead Door Inc.’s garage door service in Louisville, Kentucky!
