The most important and vital component part on any home garage door are the torsion springs which allow the door to open and close easily and smoothly. If one or both of the springs are not functioning properly, the door might not open all the way or even at all. As with all mechanical and electric equipment in the home, garage doors need frequent servicing to ensure that they carry on operating the way they were meant to.

In order to maintain your home garage door opener in peak condition, you need to attend to lubricating and checking on the spring system, which is one of the most vital parts for safe and proper performance of the door. Unfortunately, many householders are unaware that garage door torsion springs and several other components of the door call for occasional run-of-the-mill maintenance and safety checks.

If you are experiencing any problems opening or closing your garage door, you should always pay close attention to the torsion springs which are the most obvious culprits. If the springs are old, they are likely to have worn out to a certain point. The torsion springs used on garage doors are tightly wound and kept under very high tension. It is due to this extreme high tension that even the best quality steel springs will wear over time and finally snap. Garage door opener springs have to be properly contained in order to stop them from causing serious injury to a person or property should there be a sudden breakage. Up and over garage doors use cables for containment while roller shutter doors make use of a steel tube around the spring mechanism.

Even if they are contained and you have an ageing garage door, it is advisable to have them inspected regularly by a professional installer. If needed, the springs should be replaced. If you have a model of garage door that has two separate springs, and only one is broken, you should still interchange both simultaneously. You can bet your bottom dollar that if one spring has broken, its opposite number will not be far behind it.

A definite indication that your garage door is in need of a spot of service is when the springs either start squeaking or chattering loudly when raising or bringing down the door. This does not necessarily mean that the springs are about to give up the ghost or the door is on its last legs and needs replacing. The problem can probably be cured by spraying on some lubricant, such as WD-40, or something similar.

Another sign that your garage door requires inspection and repair is if there are shredded and worn strips of cable dangling loose. Irrespective of the quality of your garage door opener, this is a sign that the cables are on the brink of breaking. An abrupt break in the garage door cables can cause serious injury. These chafed cables ought to be tested and most likely replaced by a professional repairer who is acquainted with the problems connected with springs and cables breaking.

Due to the weight they must lift, garage door torsion springs are maintained under extreme tension making them dangerous to adjust. It is a good advice to schedule a yearly maintenance inspection of your garage door by a certified service engineer. This will avert the risk of potential injury and also give you peace of mind that the door will work correctly each time you need to use it.