Diagnosing Garage Door Spring Problems By The Noises They Make

Posted on: 12 August 2015

One of the operational components of the average garage door that rarely gets looked at by a homeowner is the tension springs. Even though a lot smaller than the lift arms of garage door opener, these springs serve a valuable purpose and without them, your garage door would not even be able to open and close properly. What you may not know is that garage door springs will usually tell you there is something wrong long before they completely fail by making specific noises. Here are a few of the most common noises failing garage door springs can make and what you need to know in order to take action. 

Screeches, Squeaks, and Squeals

High-pitched noises made by the garage door springs will definitely be hard on your ears, but if you are like a lot of homeowners, you will barely pay any attention and try to find out what is wrong. If your garage door springs are making this noise, it means that the metal of the spring itself is getting highly stressed. This could be because the springs have somehow become entangled in something else or that they are just tensioned too tightly, which can be dangerous if they break. It is a good idea to have a professional take a look at the springs to figure out what is causing the problem. 

Popping and Rattling 

If the garage door springs are popping when your door is being raised or lowered, it could be a sign that they are actually not providing enough tension to stay fully extended or retracted. The noise is a result of the spring coils hitting against each other, which definitely should not be happening. If you have your owner's manual, check to see what the appropriately tensioned spring should look like, but if you have not got the right tools to tighten the springs, it is best to get a technician to take care of it for you. Garage door spring repairs can be dangerous because a small slip can cause the spring to slip off of its holding hook. 

The bottom line is, if your garage door springs are making a lot of racket during operation, it is definitely for a good reason and you should pay attention. If your springs are making unusual noises that you cannot diagnose on your own, talk to a professional like one from Overhead Door Of Akron to find out more about what could be the problem.  

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