Garage door systems may differ in their configurations; however, all overhead garage doors utilize springs to counterbalance and support the door’s weight. Whether through pulling or twisting, these springs enable controlled and balanced movement of the garage door. They achieve this by generating considerable force, posing a risk of severe bodily injury or worse if mishandled. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the risks and implement the following safety measures when replacing or repairing garage door springs.

1. Clear the Worksite

During the spring repair process, it is essential to work at an elevated height. In the event that tools or replacement parts fall onto valuables or vehicles inside the garage, it may result in damage and incur avoidable expenses.

Before commencing any work, it is essential to ensure that vehicles are removed, and valuable possessions are cleared from the designated work area. If a broken spring causes the garage door to become excessively heavy for manual lifting, either relocate the vehicles to the furthest end of the garage or have someone assist you with lifting the door. Ensure there is at least 3 to 4 feet of space to carry out the work.

2. Use Proper Torsion Spring Winding Bars

Before unwinding or winding the springs, it is imperative to ensure that you have solid winding bars that are compatible and can be securely positioned inside the spring’s winding cone slot. The torsion spring’s slot measures ½ inch in diameter, necessitating a pair of ½ inch diameter winding bars. If designated winding bars are not readily available, contact a local garage door repair company. On many occasions, Champion also lends or sells winding bars to local consumers who purchase torsion springs from the company.

As an alternative, you may acquire two pieces of steel rebar (each measuring ½ inch in diameter and 18 inches in length) from a local hardware store and utilize them as winding bars. While certain online sources may discourage the use of rebar to promote their own products, rest assured that appropriately sized rebar is considered safe for use when replacing garage door torsion springs.

3. Maintain a Safe Zone While Handling Springs

Ensure your head, body, and limbs remain clear of the operating zone when unwinding or winding torsion springs. This involves avoiding positioning yourself in the path or directly beneath the winding bar. Due to the torque generated by the spring, substantial force is exerted on the winding bars. In the event of a winding bar slipping from your hands during the repair process, there is a risk of it descending rapidly, causing potential damage to anything in its path.

4. Secure the Torsion Tube in Place

Use vice grips to firmly secure the torsion tube in place before initiating the winding process of torsion springs. This step is crucial to ensure the garage door remains closed, preventing angular acceleration in scenarios where the torque exerted by the springs exceeds the door’s weight. Such situations may arise from the installation of incorrect garage door springs or the application of an inappropriate torque output to the springs.

This precautionary measure mitigates the risk of the door rapidly lifting on its own, reducing the potential hazard of falling from the ladder and minimizing the likelihood of damage to the garage door.

5. Purchase Garage Door Springs from Authorized Suppliers

Considering the inherent risks associated with the replacement of garage door springs, it is recommended to purchase new springs and torsion springs exclusively from an authorized garage door supplier or authorized spring supplier. Such entities are equipped to supply proper spring replacement based on accurate measurements, either on-site or off-site.

Local consumers bring their worn or broken springs directly to the Champion location, allowing the company’s staff to accurately measure them. Furthermore, the company’s technicians extend their services by traveling to the consumer’s location to perform on-site measurements and deliver the appropriate springs.

On occasion, Champion receives inquiries from customers attempting DIY garage door repairs but facing balance issues due to incorrect size springs. This problem typically arises because unqualified online merchants often utilize inaccurate remote measuring methods to determine the specifications of the replacement spring.

The company recently received a service request from a homeowner in Huntington Beach who had purchased springs from an online merchant. The merchant determined the spring size based on a picture provided by the customer. However, the spring in the picture lacked any measurements stamp or indication of the spring’s wire diameter, inside diameter, and wire length. Consequently, the spring was unable to support the door properly, damaging the garage door opener.

Operating the garage door with the wrong garage door springs can have damaging effects. A garage door that isn’t balanced correctly will wear out the rollers, hinges, bearings, garage door opener gears and sprocket, and may cause the garage door to come off the tracks.

Mastering Torsion Spring Replacement

Repairing garage door springs can be a complex and potentially hazardous task, even for seasoned garage door repair technicians. To ensure a safe replacement of springs and a successful garage door repair, it is advisable to have a proper understanding of the process, the underlying mechanics of the system, and to implement the safety measures outlined in this article. Additionally, wearing appropriate safety gear, confirming the garage door is properly balanced, and knowing when to call a garage door repair company are key steps that can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries during garage door maintenance or repair projects.