The most important and critical component 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 working properly, the door might not open all the way or even at all. As with all mechanical and electrical gear in the home, garage doors need regular inspection and repair to ensure that they carry on operating the way they were meant to.

One of the most important and dangerous components on any home garage door opener are the high tension springs which must be regularly inspected and lubricated as per the manufacturers instructions. Unfortunately, most homeowners are unaware that garage door springs together with other components of the door call for periodic run-of-the-mill maintenance and safety checks.

If you are experiencing any trouble opening or shutting your garage door, you should always pay close attention to the torsion springs which are the most obvious perpetrators. Depending how old the springs, they are liable to have worn out to a certain degree. The torsion springs used on garage doors are tightly wound and kept under very high tension. Because of this tautness, even the best quality steel springs will eventually snap. It is due to this chance of sudden breakage that all garage door opener torsion springs must be contained in order to avert serious injury or property damage. Up and over garage doors use cables for containment while roller shutter doors use 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 on a regular basis by a professional engineer. If necessary, the springs should be interchanged. If you have a model of garage door that has two independant springs, and only one is not operating correctly, you should still replace both at the same time. It stands to reason that the other spring is likely to break before you know it.

A sure indication that your garage door is in need of a spot of maintenance is when the springs either begin screeching 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 requires replacing. The problem can likely be repaired by spraying on some lubricant, such as WD-40, or something similar.

A further indication that your garage door needs maintenance is if there are shredded and worn strips of cable dangling loose. Regardless of the quality of your garage door opener, this is a sign that the cables are on the verge of breaking. An abrupt break in the garage door cables can cause serious injury. These chafed cables ought to be tested and more than likely replaced by a professional repairer who is familiar with the problems associated with springs and cables breaking.

Because of the weight they must lift, garage door torsion springs are retained under extreme tension making them hazardous to adjust. It is a sound advice to schedule a yearly maintenance inspection of your garage door by a registered service engineer. This will avert the risk of potential injury and also give you peace of mind that the door will operate correctly each and every time.