Garage Doors DIY – Replacing Worn Out Torsion Springs
Torsion springs are the ones responsible for bearing the brunt of the weight of garage doors, this enables the doors to be easily opened either manually or by using a remote controlled garage door opener. When these springs get worn out after a couple of years you will need to have them replaced. If you’re confident with working with tools then this could just be a great DIY project that you can do. If you do decide on working on your garage door yourself then here are some pointers to help you out.
The first thing you need to remember when working on a slightly large piece of equipment like the garage door, you should have a buddy with you, you could always use an extra pair of hands to help make the work a bit lighter.
Torsion springs come in an array of different sizes; they have different tensile strengths so choose the ones that fit your needs. Take into consideration your garage door’s size and weight so that you’ll be able to purchase the right kind of torsion springs to replace your old ones. It is imperative that you get the right size of springs because it will definitely hurt if these massive pieces of metal ever pop off due to the weight of the door. It is also a good idea to replace all of the springs at the same time, this will ensure that they both get the same amount of wear and tear, replacing just one will make the garage door unbalanced.
The torsion springs aren’t the only parts of garage doors that need attention; the garage door also has a system of ropes and pulleys that help open and close the door, these also receive a considerable amount of abuse as well. Before replacing the torsion springs, makes sure that the other components are in tip-top shape as well.
You should also check the door itself if it is still hanging level on its hinges. Check if the rails that hold the garage doors in place are still firmly attached to the garage, if not then tighten all the loose bolts and nuts that you find.
When replacing the garage doors springs, you need to make sure that you have the proper tools at hand, don’t improvise like using a kitchen knife to loosen and tight screws; not only is doing so dangerous, it can also round out the heads of the screws, making removing them later very difficult. Since you will be working most of the time on a ladder, it is a good idea to have them within reach so that you don’t have to go down every time you need something.
Remember that garage doors are probably the largest moving part of your house, so in order for it to function correctly, every component should be in perfect working condition. So if you find that your garage door isn’t opening and closing as smoothly as it should be, check the torsion springs out and see if they need replacement.
