The Most Important Part of Your Garage Door:

The Torsion Spring

How Do I Know When A Garage Door Spring Is Wearing Out?

So how can you detect when a spring is wearing out. First you need to identify what spring system you have on your door. There are two types: Torsion and extension. Torsion springs are located on a bar above the garage door. Extension springs are typically found on the sides of the door and extend inside the garage space.

Torsion springs last from four to nine years typically. The best method to test the spring is to release the door from the motor and manually lift the door to the halfway point in the opening. If it drifts down the spring is most likely loosing its strength and may be in need of replacing. If you lift it to the fully open position and it drifts down this is another confirmation that the spring may need to be replaced. 

Extension springs can be tested the same way but there are other ways to inspect these springs:



First: if there are gaps in the coils when the spring is in the relaxed position this indicates that the steel is wearing out and not able to hold good tension to hold the door.

Second: if the right side and left side of the door appear to be misaligned this can be an indicator that one of the springs are giving out.

Finally: Check the loops or clips ate the end of the extension spring. If these are wearing and showing signs of lose of connection the spring should be replaced.