While tension can be added to a garage door torsion spring to extend its life, it is important to note that it is not uncommon for a spring to break shortly after it has been tensioned. Because of this, it is common that professionals will recommend changing the spring versus adding tension if the spring appears to be at the end of its lifecycle.

It is important to note that on a dual spring system, the springs will generally have the same lifecycle if they were originally installed at the same time. If one spring has broken, the second spring will more than likely break shortly after. We generally recommend changing both springs so an additional trip and labor fee are not needed in the near future.

We always recommend that a trained professional change the springs on the garage door. Whether it is a torsion spring system or an extension spring system, the springs carry quite a bit of torque and pressure that can be dangerous to work with unless trained properly.

A torsion spring system will be located at the top of the garage door, and an extension spring system will have a spring on each side of the garage door alongside the top track. Unless a safety cable is installed through the middle of an extension spring, it can be very dangerous. When they break, they are more likely to fly through the garage and can damage property or injure an individual. Torsion springs are installed with a torsion tube running through them, and when they break, they will stay in place.

When a garage door spring breaks, it will generally make a loud pop noise. Many times, however, you will not be in the vicinity to hear these initial noises. A key sign to a broken spring is that the door will only raise a few inches, or not at all. If it does raise, it will more than likely be very heavy and difficult to lift because the spring is generally what does the lifting of the door. We recommend not operating the door until a trained professional comes out to replace the broken spring.

The most common signs that the garage door is in need of a tune-up is if it is noisy such as screeching sounds, or if it is jerky during operation. Our technicians will come and provide lubrication, any needed tightening of hinges/bolts, check the safety reversal system, and check the door for proper balancing. They will provide their expertise on ways to keep the door operating at its maximum potential and answer any questions you may have. We recommend a tune-up once yearly, and many times our customers talk about how a simple tune-up made such an improvement to the operation of their garage door.

Most of our professional-grade garage door openers will come with a one-year warranty on parts and installation. Depending on the model of the opener, there may be an extended warranty on certain parts on the opener such as the belt (on a belt drive), or a limited lifetime warranty on the motor itself. If an opener is purchased elsewhere and we install it, the warranty on installation through our company will generally be 30 days.

The most durable garage door openers are the professional-grade models such as LiftMaster Professional because they come with many upgrades as well as a solid steel rail that goes from the opener to the door for maximum durability and longevity versus contractor models that consist of a pieced-together rail comprised of plastic connectors. Today, most professional openers now come with significant upgrades such as battery backup, motion sensor light activation, and built-in Wi-Fi which allows for smartphone control with the myQ® app as well.

We do not recommend operating a garage door with a broken spring. Because the spring is what does the lifting of the door, when one or more springs are broken, the door will be very heavy. If you have an automatic garage door opener, this will more than likely cause damage to the opener, as its function is to assist the door in raising with minimum capacity for weight. Operating the door with a broken spring can also cause further damage to the door such as throwing it off its cables and tracking.

Both chain drive and belt drive garage door openers are wonderful options. The belt drive openers are known for being exceptionally quiet, especially the higher-end professional grade belt drive openers, such as the Liftmaster Professional model 8550. However, a high-end professional-grade chain drive opener may offer a little more longevity on a very heavy garage door.

Many times a garage door can be installed on existing tracks if it is the same type of door being installed (ie: metal vs wood door) and the existing garage door tracks are still in great shape. However, our garage doors will generally come with all new tracking unless specified otherwise by our customers.