garage door springs!

[tonycarguy]

Hey i have a question for everyone. I have a 2-car garage with 1-piece wood door. It uses 4 extension springs. I replaced all 4 two years ago but suddenly yesterday, they won't hold up the door anymore. I need to exert a lot of effort to raise the door -- I estimate 60+ lbs, whereas before it needed maybe 25 lbs. The springs won't even hold the door in the horizontal position.

Is there some adjustment that needs to be done or are the springs shot already? 2 yrs doesn't seem right.

 

[The_Jeff]

Something snapped! Look at them a little better; there's a safety wire.

 

[robshelton]

The springs should last longer than two years. Is there any chance the door has gotten heavier? Maybe it's soaked up some moisture or something. Might want to check for anything binding too.

 

[tonycarguy]

The springs didn't snap, I checked them over and they look fine.

robshelton, you brought up an interesting point. It rained a lot lately so maybe the door got heavier. A gallon of water is 9 lbs, so I guess it's possible the door absorbed a few gallons. I'll wait for dry weather and see if it improves.

 

[robshelton]

Leverage is an amazing thing - if the door has the extra weight at the bottom as I would assume, it will appear to be many times heavier. Not so sunny in Cali, 'eh? At least the mud slides took it easy! Good Luck!

 

[Schmoe]

I'd still bet it's the spring. Happened to me a couple of years ago. You can't really tell by looking at it you have to watch the springs and see if they wind up when lowering.
Get a contrasting marker and draw a straight line through the whole coil and then look at it after lowering or opening. If the line is still pretty much straight, spring is kaput.

 

[mechtech2]

Maybe it is not a broken spring, but simply the mount where you adjust one of them came loose

 

[tonycarguy]

Originally Posted By: robshelton
The springs should last longer than two years. Is there any chance the door has gotten heavier? Maybe it's soaked up some moisture or something. Might want to check for anything binding too.


Good call. After several days of dry weather, the door is lighter and can be opened normally

I guess this is why doors are fiberglass nowadays