What To Do In Addition To Calling For Garage Door Spring Repair

Garage door springs do eventually have to be replaced, and having the door inspected yearly can help you keep up with maintenance. But occasionally, the springs will break unexpectedly. In addition to calling a repair company, you'll have to do a couple of other things, especially if you need to get your car out of the garage.

If You Hear Sounds From the Spring, Don't Go Near It 

The spring will most likely make some sort of noise when breaking, although it doesn't have to. The real problem is that the spring if stretched, can break suddenly and send parts flying, which is dangerous. If you hear any sounds from the springs, don't walk up to them just yet. Get a flashlight if you can't see them well and look for signs that the spring has already broken. Call for garage door spring repair immediately if the springs look like they're overly stretched or otherwise in danger of snapping.

If the Motorized Opener Won't Lift the Door, Stop Using the Opener

Chances are you'll find out about the broken spring because the opener won't seem to work. You'll hear it, but the door won't move. When that happens, stop using the opener. You'll only put excessive stress on the motor and still won't be able to open the door. Go into the garage if you were outside and ensure everything looks like it's in place. Check the springs, and you'll be able to see if one is broken.

You Can Still Open the Door Manually if Necessary

If your car is stuck in the garage, and you absolutely have to get it out before you can have the spring repaired, you can try opening the door manually. You must do this very carefully as the door may be much heavier than you anticipate. You'll have to detach the door from the opener and lift in the center of the door, not the sides. If you can get someone to help you, do so, and both of you lift slightly past the center of the door on both sides.

Watch where you put your feet (in case you drop the door), and stop trying to lift the door if it's too heavy. You'll need to push the door up until it is fully open and resting in its horizontal open position. If you let go before that, the door will drop back down quickly. Get the car out and carefully close the door. Don't attempt to open it again before the repair is done.

Call for repairs quickly so that you're not left with an unusable garage door for long. When you have the spring repaired, arrange for the company to inspect the other spring and replace that if necessary.

Learn more about garage door spring repair services.