This place just saved me some $$$$

[Cuda]

I was reading a post last week here about garage door springs. Well on Saturday I had got home from getting some things and parked the truck in my garage and closed the door as I got out of the truck. I glanced up at the springs on my door (because I remembered the earlier post) and much to my surprise I noticed one of the springs on my double door was broken. Door seemed to work fine. Same noise it's always had. So I have no idea how long that side has been broken.
Not wanting to mess with those springs myself, I called a door guy Monday morning. He was at my house by yesterday afternoon. It took him all of about 30 minutes to replace both springs for $185.00. He told me it was good I had moved quick on this because in time I could have stripped out the gears on the carriage on my opener (it's the worm screw type opener) or even damaged the motor.
The whole thing surprised me because I just figured if one spring broke I'd know about it quick. So check your springs.
Anyone else here save them heartache from things you have read here?

 

[IONH]

I would expect the springs to hang down once broken. Is this no the case for yours? I'd also expect they may hit the car or truck parked inside if the break was violent enough.. thankfully this did not happen in your case.

I was just looking at the springs on one of my garage doors the other day because the door has been jumping with the electric opener. A couple of loops on each are extended, so I figure they must be close to failing.

 

[Matt M PA]

Glad it all worked out okay. But I must differ...this place tends to cost me money!

 

[Frank]

I would expect the springs to hang down once broken. Is this no the case for yours? I'd also expect they may hit the car or truck parked inside if the break was violent enough.. thankfully this did not happen in your case.

I was just looking at the springs on one of my garage doors the other day because the door has been jumping with the electric opener. A couple of loops on each are extended, so I figure they must be close to failing.

He's prob got the axial springs that are wrapped around an axle. The don't go anywhere. They scare the **** out of me. I'll gladly hire a pro to replace and have.

 

[lametec]

I would expect the springs to hang down once broken. Is this no the case for yours? I'd also expect they may hit the car or truck parked inside if the break was violent enough.. thankfully this did not happen in your case.

The long extension springs that go along the track don't go anywhere when they break. There's a cable going through the center of the springs that keep 'em in place. At least there's supposed to be. YMMV.

I've had two of mine break, no big deal. I used some pliers to make new "hooks" on the ends (which is where both broke). Still going strong months/years later.

Here's a pic of a broken extension spring. You can see the broken "hook" on the end. BTW, not my picture.

 

[Grumpy365]

I would expect the springs to hang down once broken. Is this no the case for yours? I'd also expect they may hit the car or truck parked inside if the break was violent enough.. thankfully this did not happen in your case.

I was just looking at the springs on one of my garage doors the other day because the door has been jumping with the electric opener. A couple of loops on each are extended, so I figure they must be close to failing.

For about the last 15 to 20 years they have been putting cable thru the center of the spring in case it was to brake to kind of contain the spring and keep it from shooting across the garage and damageing something.

 

[Cuda]

He's prob got the axial springs that are wrapped around an axle. The don't go anywhere. They scare the **** out of me. I'll gladly hire a pro to replace and have.

Yep. Mine go around the axle. I sure would have thought I'd a heard it when it broke though. Maybe it happened when the Mrs. opened it.

 

[James E]

My Dad had a garage door spring break about fifteen years ago. The piece that broke flew across about 20' of garage and punched through a layer of 1/4" paneling, the wall sheathing and almost made it through the masonite siding on the outside of the wall before it stopped.

Made a helluva noise, too.

Not knowing how they're made, I'm glad to see that they've adopted newer, safer designs.

 

[IONH]

I'll have to make sure there's a cable running through the center. Thanks for the heads up! The prior owner was big in to DIY and I've been surprised at how . . oddly . . some things were done that I ran in to so far. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Torque1st]

Cables running thru extension springs is kind of hit and miss. Just check your springs and install them if you don't have any. None of my houses had cables until I installed them.

 

[Keep]

Glad it all worked out okay. But I must differ...this place tends to cost me money!

I will have to agree with this statement. This place has cost me a bunch.

 

[srmofo]

I sure would have thought I'd a heard it when it broke though.

If a garage door spring breaks and no ones around to hear it, does it still make a noise?

seriously though it probably just broke when you werent around. Ive seen 4 or 5 break at the shop just sitting there. The last time one broke it caused the door to shift and bind up 1 hour after closing time on a saturday. We ended up unbolting the torsion bar just to get the door closed. You would not believe how heavy a 14' tall x 11' wide glass door is with no springs to help lift it.