The Easiest Way to Replace Garage Door Springs
There are two main types of spring-loaded garage doors, the one with extension springs and the other has a torsion spring. The extension spring works, as the name implies, by stretching (or extending) when your door is closed and retracting when the door is open. You will be able to see the two springs on the ceiling, one by each runner for the door. The garage door torsion spring is located on the ceiling and directly in front of the door between the two runners, and works by the spring causing the drum to turn, causing the cable to be wound on it and opening the door.
When you are working on replacing the extension springs, you must have your door open and make sure it is secured in that position. The power behind these springs can be of deadly force, so you need to be very cautious. You need to remove the broken garage door springs and use it when you buy new ones so you are sure to get the correct diameter, length and wire size. Even though only one is broken, you need to replace them both at the same time. You also need to check your pulleys and cables and replace them if they are worn or damaged. Attach the spring, weaving the cable through the pulleys as they are on the unbroken side. Repeat this on the other side, and then carefully close the door. If your springs are not adjusted correctly, the door may not open and close easily, and can be potentially dangerous.
The garage door torsion spring is much more complicated and time consuming, not to mention dangerous to replace. For this repair, the garage door needs to be secured in the closed position. Your door may require either one or two springs and you will have to put them on a tube (yes, this sounds easy, but we are not talking about a spring the size in an ink pen with the force of a rubber band powered airplane). Each torsion spring is a stationary cone, winding cone and coils, these have to be layered on a tube in the correct order along with the nylon center bearing and plate and the cable drums. Both the cable drums and the winding cones are color coded for the different sides of the garage door, and installing them on the wrong side will not allow your door to function right.
Now you still have to get this contraption lifted up and attached to the garage, then the cables brought up and inserted into the drum, getting the slack out, then winding the springs to their proper tension. If there is a shortage of head space, you are warned not to even start this job yourself. These springs have so much force, they could cause injury or death if something goes wrong, so you really need to study the actual step by step instructions before you decide to tackle this type of repair, and you should not attempt to try it without someone there to help you.
Before attempting to do this, make a list of all the parts you should be replacing and price them. If you are going to take the time to take it apart, you really want to replace everything now, and not have to tear it back apart in a couple of weeks or months. Now, as promised, the easiest way to do a garage door spring replacement is to hire a professional to do the job, and it might be safer, too.
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