It had been two years since Allie G (a teacher and a writer for the Medium), and her husband, purchased their dream home. But as it turned out, their home had its share of issues. Namely the day that their garage door spring decided to break, leaving them trapped inside the garage.
It was as quick as it was unexpected Allie wrote; a day of relaxation was changed considerably when the crack of the garage door springs ripped through the home. The garage door which was being raised to allow their vehicles to exit from the garage, made it a foot off the ground before it came crashing back to the ground.
It is true that springs will break over time. Mostly due to normal wear and tear, but sometimes due to a flaw in the spring or other reason that affects its integrity such as corrosion or rust. Whatever the reason is, the heavy garage door was not going to open.
As a matter of fact, Allie and her husband didn’t expect the spring to break because they fully inspected the property by a home inspector before they bought it. The assumption was that if there were something wrong with the garage door, it would’ve been seen at that time. Perhaps with all the changes needed after purchasing the home, the idea that someone should’ve foreseen the garage door spring failing was expected.
And yet, what happened was not only unexpected, but also prevented the garage door from opening while the cars are parked inside, and ruined the couple’s Sunday plans to watch football with friends. With the spring being broken, there was no way that Allie and her husband could lift the heavy garage door. As Allie’s husband did leave to meet his friends, it was up to her to fix the garage door and search for a garage door repair company to replace the broken spring.
After a quick search online, and multiple calls that went unanswered, she found a local garage door company near her location that was kind enough to provide service on a Sunday. The technician asked for a picture of the broken spring and said that it would speed up the repair time as he could ensure that he’s bringing the right spring and parts with him.
According to Allie, that was quite a challenge as she had to squeeze between the cars with a step tool and reach well above her height. By bracing the step stool between the vehicles, she was able to snap a photo of the torsion spring and send it to the technician.
Unfortunately, the technician asked to see the numbers on the spring. That was going to be even more challenging given the location of the numbers. It took some doing, but after a few failed attempts, Allie was able to grab the broken spring, reveal the numbers, and take a good picture. The technician identified it immediately and said that he would be there in a half-hour with the right springs to perform the repair and replace the broken spring. Although it was quite a work and wait, at the end of the day the service technician replaced the broken spring and repaired the broken door.
There are several lessons to be learned from this experience. The first is to assume that home inspectors are properly equipped to identify garage door springs that are about to break.
Home Inspectors Can Inspect Garage Door Springs?
To be fair, the garage door springs may have been in perfect condition when the inspection was conducted. Most home inspectors may be fully trained to perform their work, however, spotting issues with a garage door, especially in the early stages might be beyond their knowledge or capabilities.
While most inspectors can detect obvious issues such as garage door springs that are broken, they are mostly not trained to spot springs that are wearing out or parts that may be on the verge of breaking.
How Home Inspectors Inspect Garage Doors?
Home inspectors test an overhead garage door by pulling it up and down the tracks to gauge its smooth operation. They might inspect the opener sensors, the overall garage door balance, and quickly inspect the tracks and parts associated with the garage door to see if anything is out of place. But that is about the extent of their garage door checkup. Without a proper inspection by a licensed garage door repair specialist, issues that may be minor fixes will go unnoticed until they become big problems.
Signs the Springs are About to Break
Although some garage door springs will snap without warning, for the most part, there are warning signs that the springs are wearing out. What to keep in mind is that the springs allow the door to move up and down with little assistance. This means that the condition of the springs is tied directly into the full operation of the door itself. What follows are some symptoms of garage door springs that may need to be replaced.
- Unusual vibrations or binding
- Excessive rust buildup on the spring’s coil
- Off-Track breakdowns
- Irregular noise from the spring
- Slack in the door’s cables
If your garage door is acting up for no apparent reason, that could also be a sign of the springs needing replacement. When these early signs are starting to appear, you may want to consult a licensed garage door repair technician.
Hire a Local Garage Door Repair Company Near You
Recommendations from friends and family is always a good place to start, but you can also glean the information from online sources.
Start by searching for garage door repair companies near you. Make sure to contact a licensed contractor only, focus on legitimate companies that also offer emergency same day services, and provide up front estimates for their repair and installation services. Once you have narrowed down the list, call them to talk about the services they provide and then make your final decision.
A little extra work on your part will help you to avoid fraud, fake garage door companies, bait and switch tactics, and will likely result in a quick and proper replacement of the broken spring.
