Broken Garage Door Spring: What to Do

Broken Garage Door Spring: What to Do

Are you having trouble opening or closing your garage door? This potentially dangerous situation often indicates a broken spring. Instead of attempting to fix it yourself, contact Consolidated Garage Doors for help. 

How Do Garage Door Springs Work?

Garage door springs are metal coils that raise and lower the door. Two types of springs exist — torsion springs, which span the width of the door, and extension springs, which extend along the tracks on the door’s sides. 

Torsion springs hold tension in their coil, which helps to keep the door in place when closed and lift it during opening. As a garage door opens, the torsion springs unwind. As the door closes, the springs wind up again.

Extension springs contract as the door opens, using tension to pull it up. They also rely on a system of pulleys and cables to raise and lower a door. Extension springs are more common on older garage doors, while tension springs are more common on newer models. 

What Causes a Broken Garage Door Spring?

Garage doors are heavy, and most get used at least daily, if not several times a day. Frequent opening and closing causes the springs to wear out as they approach 10,000 cycles — with one cycle representing one opening and closing. Haphazard maintenance practices make them more likely to wear out and break.

What to Do If a Spring Breaks on Your Garage Door

Replacing a broken garage door spring is not a do-it-yourself job for several reasons, including your garage door’s weight and the high tension applied to the springs. Attempting to fix the springs on your own carries an increased risk of injury.

Consolidated Garage Doors offers garage door spring replacement in the Chicagoland area. We can quickly fix your problem and provide maintenance advice to extend your new spring’s life.

How to Open a Garage Door With a Broken Spring

You should not use your garage when your garage door spring is broken because the door is too heavy to lift and lower safely without the spring to support it. A spring replacement will return your garage door to normal operation as soon as possible.

Replace a Broken Garage Door Spring With Consolidated Garage Doors

Contact us if your garage door spring is broken. We’ll send a technician to inspect and replace it if necessary. We’ve provided Chicagoland with SOLID SERVICE, SOLID SALES, and SOLID PRODUCTS since 1976^® and look forward to making you a lifelong customer.

How Often Should You Get Your Garage Door Serviced?

Regular maintenance of your garage door can prolong its life span and ensure it continues operating smoothly and safely. A well-maintained garage door is less likely to break down unexpectedly, reducing repair costs and preventing inconvenient disruptions to your daily routine.

What Should Garage Door Maintenance Include?

The general recommendation is to have your garage door serviced at least once a year by a professional garage door technician. During the annual service, your technician will inspect and test all the components of your garage door and opener, including the springs, cables, rollers, hinges, tracks and safety sensors. Expert technicians from Consolidated Garage Doors, Ltd., will identify any signs of wear and tear, damage or misalignment and make any needed adjustments or repairs to ensure your door operates safely, smoothly and quietly.

It’s essential to pay attention to any signs that your garage door is making unusual noises or not operating correctly. These could indicate that the door requires servicing sooner than the recommended annual interval.

Signs You Should Get Your Garage Door Serviced

Regular servicing of your garage door is crucial for ensuring safe, efficient and long-lasting operation. Failing to maintain your garage door can lead to various issues. Here are some signs that your garage door requires servicing:

• Slow or uneven operation: If your garage door is taking longer than usual to open or close or moving in a jerky or uneven manner, these issues could come from the springs, cables or rollers.
• Excessive noise: Garage doors can produce some noise during operation, but if the noise becomes louder than usual or includes grinding, scraping or rattling sounds, it could be a sign of worn or damaged components. Our technicians can identify the source of the noise and make any necessary repairs.
• Door sticking or jamming: If your garage door is sticking or jamming during operation, it could be due to misaligned tracks, broken rollers or hinges.
• Safety or sensor issues: Garage doors are equipped with safety sensors that prevent the door from closing if there is an obstacle in the way. If these fail to work, this can be a safety hazard.
• Damaged components: Over time, your garage door’s components can wear out or become damaged, leading to reduced performance and increased risk of breakdowns.

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Trust us to fix a range of residential garage door issues and provide preventive maintenance. Get in touch with us today for expert garage door service.

Signs Your Garage Door Needs Maintenance

As a homeowner, it’s easy to take for granted that your garage door functions properly. However, like most mechanical objects, a garage door requires regular service to keep it in peak operating condition and prevent unexpected breakdowns, especially as it ages. It’s a good idea to keep an eye out for indications that your garage door needs maintenance.

1. Excessive or Unusual Noises

While all garage doors make noise while operating, some sounds can indicate potential repair or maintenance issues. For example, a grating or rumbling racket during opening or closing often identifies faulty or failing springs. Other troublesome sounds include popping, squeaking and rustling. 

2. Door Won’t Open or Close

A door that stops halfway or doesn’t open at all can prevent you from getting your car out of the garage. And a door that’s stuck in the raised position poses a security risk. Possible causes for a door that won’t move include a malfunctioning opener, a faulty connection between the door and the control panel, broken springs, a blocked photo-eye sensor or a snapped cable.

3. Sagging

Does your door begin to sag or fall slowly to the floor when you open or close it about halfway? It likely means that the door is unbalanced and requires a manual adjustment. A worn spring can also create a potentially dangerous imbalance and requires prompt service.

4. Misalignment

A garage door may come off the tracks over time. This issue occurs more frequently as the door ages or sustains significant damage. A professional garage door technician can perform a comprehensive inspection and correct the problem or recommend a door replacement. 

5. Slow Response Time or Hitching

A properly functioning door requires only a few seconds to open or close after you activate the opener. If your door moves more slowly or exhibits a jerky motion, there’s likely an issue with the springs or another essential component. Lubricating the tracks, rollers and other moving parts may improve the performance. 

6. Shaking

A door that shakes or vibrates excessively during opening and closing may have loose hinges, damaged tracks, disconnected rollers or other mechanical issues. This problem tends to worsen over time, making it essential to perform timely service. 

Consolidated Garage Doors, Ltd. Provides Garage Door Repair and Maintenance

Do you live in Batavia, St. Charles, Geneva or the surrounding area? If you are noticing possible maintenance issues or signs you need a new garage door, the experienced professionals at Consolidated Garage Doors, Ltd. are ready to help. 

Delivering SOLID SERVICE, SOLID SALES and SOLID PRODUCTS is the focus of our business. Our experienced garage door technicians can keep your door performing well and handle the most challenging repair tasks quickly and efficiently.

Contact Us to Learn More

Are you noticing signs that your garage door needs maintenance or repairs? Call us at 630-761-1976 or fill out our online form to request a service appointment today.

A Maintenance Checklist to Keep Your Garage Door Working

Knowing how to maintain your garage door can extend its life and improve its appearance, boosting your home’s curb appeal. This handy garage door maintenance checklist can help you identify when a common garage door problem is occurring, allowing you to take care of your garage doors so they stay reliable.

How to Keep Your Garage Door Working

Ideally, you should run through this garage door safety maintenance checklist every season or four times a year:

• Check your garage door owner’s manual for any instructions and maintenance recommendations specific to your model.
• Visually examine your garage door for anything that seems to be changed or worn since the last time you checked.
• Check your garage door panels, cables, springs, rollers, tracks and other moving components for loose bolts and nuts, frayed cables, broken springs, or other signs of damage and wear.
• Open and close the garage door, listening closely for unusual sounds.
• Check your owner’s manual for lubrication recommendations and treat moving parts such as bearings, springs, pulleys and hinges.
• Release the handle on the opener and lift your garage door partway. Ensure it stays up.
• Stand in your garage with the door closed and check for gaps in the seal by looking for light filtering around the garage door.
• Use a damp rag to wash the surface panels of your garage door, as well as the tracks and any windows present.
• Measure the moisture levels inside the garage and check for mold or pests.
• Place a book on the track and try to close the garage door to ensure the sensors work correctly.
• Test the garage door opener and the batteries in the remote.
• Check for and remove any rust on your garage door or its components.
• If you want a new look or if the current paint is fading, repaint your garage door. Be sure to follow any instructions in your owner’s manual.
• Check garage door windows and panels for signs of dents, cracks or loose parts.
• Ensure items stored in your garage are not putting weight on your garage door or getting in the way of regular operation.
• Check the weatherstripping for cracks, warping or mold. Replace faulty pieces as needed.
• If your last service was more than a year or two ago, contact the professionals at Consolidated Garage Doors for professional preventive maintenance.

When to Call Garage Door Professionals

Garage doors can weigh hundreds of pounds and have springs under high levels of tension, so it’s essential that they stay in good working order to ensure the safety of anyone who uses the garage. Contact the professionals at Consolidated Garage Doors for garage door repair if you notice any damage or strange sounds.

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Every two years, contact the team at Consolidated Garage Doors for a professional inspection. Our technicians can find and address issues you may not notice yourself, ensuring your garage door stays safe and continues to work properly.

Request service today to have our team come out to diagnose and fix any garage door issues or conduct a professional inspection. Our family-run business has offered SOLID SERVICE, SOLID SALES and SOLID PRODUCTS to homeowners in the Batavia, St. Charles and other northern Illinois areas for more than 42 years. Turn to us whenever you need help with your garage doors and we’ll be happy to serve you. 

Ways to Prepare Your Garage Door for Winter in Illinois

Winter weather in Illinois can be tough on many aspects of your property, including your garage doors. Ice, snow, blowing winds and cold temperatures can directly impact the outer surface of your garage door and cause hardware to shrink. Springs are also more likely to break in winter. Knowing how to prepare your garage door for winter can minimize its damage and extend your garage door’s life.

Prepare Your Garage Door for Winter

Preparing a garage door for winter takes just a few steps:

• Do a quick inspection: Open and close your garage door a few times, listening for any strange sounds. Check to make sure the door opens and closes smoothly with an even, consistent motion. If you notice any problems, get them fixed before winter.
• Check the seal and weatherstripping: Stand inside your garage with the door closed on a sunny day. If you can see any light coming in around the edges or if your weatherstripping has any cracks, warping or crumbling, get it replaced. Any gaps around your garage door that let in light can also let in cold and snow, which can cause further damage to the inside of your garage door and make your garage less energy-efficient.
• Lubricate: Check your garage door owner’s manual to determine which type of lubricant is safe to use on your installation. Apply a few drops of the recommended oil to hinges, springs, bearings and other moving parts. Correctly lubricating your door can protect its active components.
• Ensure your garage door is properly insulated: Your garage door is your first line of defense against Illinois winters. A properly insulated garage door can protect items stored in your garage, safeguard any interior water pipes and save you money on energy bills. 
• Organize your garage: Get rid of extra items and clean the space inside your garage. Make sure you pull out shovels and road salt and place them somewhere accessible. If large snowdrifts block your garage door, you will want to be able to remove them quickly before the weight causes severe damage.
• Get preventive maintenance: If it has been more than two years since your last upkeep appointment, contact the team at Consolidated Garage Doors for maintenance. The technicians on our team can perform a thorough inspection and any necessary repairs to ensure your garage door is ready for winter.

Contact Consolidated Garage Doors to Prepare for Winter

Winter prep for your garage door starts with Consolidated Garage Doors. If you notice your garage door is showing signs of wear, have it fixed before the harsh winter months. Contact Consolidated Garage Doors for repairs before the snow comes, or schedule seasonal maintenance to make winter a little easier on your garage doors.

For more than 42 years, Consolidated Garage Doors has helped customers in St. Charles, Batavia and other nearby areas of Illinois get the most from their garage doors with SOLID SERVICE, SOLID SALES and SOLID PRODUCTS. When you need reliable garage door repair and maintenance, contact us for service.

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The Most Common Garage Door Problems

A reliable garage door can ensure you have access to your garage whenever you need it. Regular maintenance can increase your garage door’s reliability, extend its life and give you valuable peace of mind. 

Understanding the most common garage door problems and what you can do about them can help you keep your garage doors functioning soundly.

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Problems That Occur With Garage Doors

Common garage door issues include:

• The garage door won’t open: If you activate your garage door opener and nothing happens, first check to make sure the opener itself is working and has functional batteries for the remote. Also, double-check to make sure your garage door is unlocked. If the garage door opener is fine, the issue could be a broken spring. Springs balance and lift your garage door, and they can last up to 10,000 to 20,000 cycles. At the end of their life, a professional can safely replace them.
• The garage door gets stuck: It may be a sensor issue if your garage door partially opens or closes before getting stuck. Make sure the sensor lens on your garage door is clean. If it’s not the sensor, it could be a problem with the track, springs or the door’s balance, which will require a service call from a technician. 
• Your garage door slams shut: If a garage door is slamming shut, a spring may have snapped, meaning there is nothing gently lowering your garage door. You will want to contact a service professional immediately for garage door spring repair or replacement to safeguard your door’s structure and fix the problem.
• Your garage door starts making strange sounds: A popping sound when you open or close your garage door could indicate that your rollers are worn down and may need replacement. Squeaking can be caused by worn rollers or poor lubrication on the rollers or bearings.
• The garage door starts to close and then goes back up: This common garage door issue may be caused by a problem with the sensor. In some cases, there may be debris on the sensor lens or track causing the issue. Check if the sensor lens is loose or damaged and wipe down the tracks to see if that fixes the problem.

Preventing the Most Common Garage Door Issues

Regular maintenance can prevent some garage door problems. By properly lubricating your garage doors and having a professional regularly inspect and service them, you can catch small problems before they cause a performance issue. Consistent, professional maintenance every two years can help prevent breakdowns.

Contact Consolidated Garage Doors

If you’ve run into garage door problems that require maintenance or service, contact the technicians at Consolidated Garage Doors. Our team delivers SOLID SERVICE, SOLID SALES and SOLID PRODUCTS to St. Charles, Batavia, Geneva and the surrounding communities in Illinois. Our family-run business has been offering garage door services, installations, maintenance and repairs for more than 42 years.

Request service today to have our team come out to diagnose and address your garage door problem.

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How to Wash Your Garage Door

Your garage door is an important part of your home. Keeping it in the best condition possible helps ensure it stays fully operational for years to come.

In addition to professional routine maintenance, cleaning plays the most important role in keeping your garage door in excellent condition. Taking the time to properly and thoroughly clean your door will help keep it looking good and working as it should. In some cases, cleaning might be a condition of your door’s warranty, too.

However, the cleaning process can vary depending on the material of your garage door. To get started, take a look at our guide on the best ways to clean your garage door.

Video provided by Clopay®

How to Clean Different Types of Garage Doors 

One of the most common forms of damage you may see on a garage door that isn’t well maintained is rust. It can build up on the door when foreign materials such as salt stick to the door’s surface. Routine garage door cleaning helps prevent rust before it ever becomes a problem.

There are a few different techniques to use if you are cleaning wood garage doors as opposed to steel garage doors, but this process performed twice a year works for almost all door types:

1. Hose down the door with a light spray: Do not use a powerful spray since the water could strip the door’s protective coating along with the grime.
2. Prepare your soap solution: Use one cup of a non-toxic and biodegradable garage door cleaner mixed into five gallons of water or a gentle dish detergent. Do not use an abrasive, ammonia-based cleaner. You’ll strip away more than the dirt.
3. Select a soft cleaning tool and wash the door: Use a new sponge or a soft cloth — soft microfiber will do the trick — to rub and lather the solution onto the door. Like the non-abrasive cleaner, you want something gentle, so you don’t remove the door’s finish.
4. Start at the top and work your way to the bottom: Find a ladder if necessary to reach the top corners. You don’t want to miss a spot during cleaning. Use gentle, circular strokes to loosen up the grime. When the cloth gets dirty or dry, add more cleaning solution.
5. Spray the door again to rinse: Once you have applied soap across the whole door, spray the door once again with a light stream of water. Allow it to dry naturally, or wipe it down with a chamois cloth.

Cleaning Tips for Your Garage Door 

While cleaning your doors is a simple process, paying attention to the fine details will make a world of difference in keeping your door looking great. Here are some of the dos and don’ts of garage door tips and tricks.

Special Areas for Detailing

Cleaning a garage door goes beyond just getting the grime off the surface. You also want to make sure you clean the parts of the door you can’t see, such as the following: 

• Garage door tracks: A lot of different debris can get stuck here, and unless you take a closer look, you might miss it. Dust, pet hair and leaves are just a few of the objects that could accumulate and cause the door to stick or jerk when opening or closing.
• Photo-eye sensors: These are especially important to clean. Without a clear visual path to each other, the photo-eye sensors will not allow the door to close all the way. Be sure they stay aligned as your are cleaning as well. 
• Weatherstripping: This element of the door takes most of the responsibility for the garage’s climate control. Make sure you free the rubber from dirt and debris that would prevent it from doing its job.

Washing the Windows

The process of properly cleaning the windows does not vary too much from washing the surface of the door. The only extra step involves removing inserts as necessary.

As with the garage door surface, use a soft cloth and mild soap. Abrasive ammonia or solvent-based cleaners can cause damage. 

Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be on your way to clean windows:

1. Remove any window inserts. 
2. Clean with warm water to remove layers of dirt, grime and salt.
3. Use a solution of mild dishwashing soap to complete the cleaning process.
4. Wait for the window surface to dry.
5. Replace the window inserts in the opposite manner you removed them.

When cleaning a Clopay garage door, the inserts have four tabs you can snap in and out of place to carefully remove the insert.

Common Mistakes

When cleaning your garage door, there are a couple of common mistakes to avoid: 

• Using too much water pressure: A powerwasher might get the cleaning job accomplished quickly, but the powerful spray could strip the pre-finish from steel doors or tear away the top layer of a softer wood on a garage door. Taking your time and using a regular hose along with gentle cleaners will give you the results you are after. 
• Using abrasive cleaning methods for the weatherstripping: When cleaning the weatherstripping, continue using a soft, damp cloth like you used on the outside. An abrasive tool, such as a broom, could cause damage to the weatherstripping. Since the weatherstripping plays such an important role in the insulation of your door, small nicks in the material could make it less efficient.

For Tough Conditions

If you live somewhere near the coast or in an area that would expose your garage door to a lot of road salt, wash the doors quarterly. The high salinity puts more of a strain on the surface of the door, so paying special attention to the door’s surface will help it stay looking good and last longer.

To further protect the door, consider adding a wax sealant to it. This is easy to apply. You can buy spray wax, and you only need to add a light spray after washing the garage door. Then wipe the applied wax spray down with a cloth. This way, your door will benefit from an extra layer of protection to help it stay safer longer. It only takes a few minutes, but it could make a world of difference to the surface of your door.

A Final Walk-Through

Once you finished your cleaning and detailing, try opening and closing the garage door. Watch carefully to make sure it moves smoothly and safely.

If you’re unsure if you cleaned the door correctly, you need professional service to get your door back to excellent shape, or you need a new garage door; contact Consolidated Garage Doors today. We’ll be happy to answer any maintenance questions you have and help make sure we meet all your garage door needs.

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