A garage door spring is absolutely critical to the very operation of a garage door. The garage door itself is something that is most likely used on a daily basis. So how long will the average spring last? And how can you ensure that you maximize its life potential? Different Types of Garage Door Springs Garage door springs, also called torsion springs, are categorized by number of cycles. A 10,000-cycle torsion spring is the standard spring installed in most garages. Higher cycle springs, including those that last 25,000 cycles and those that will last 50,000 cycles, are even more cost-effective when the cost is analyzed on a yearly basis. However, when looking at high-cycle springs, you also have to analyze what type of garage you have and what its lifespan might be. If you choose a type of spring that outlasts the garage in which it is installed, you’ve wasted your money. If, however, you have a well-founded structure likely to last as long as the house it accompanies, a high-cycle spring is a worthwhile investment.

The life expectancy of a garage door spring can only be calculated in cycles, but you can easily translate that to a time estimate. The average home opens and closes a garage door four times daily, and, with a 10,000-cycle torsion spring, this translates to a lifespan of approximately seven years. front door upvc usedThus, high-cycle springs can have lifespans that last from 14 to 20 years.frameless shower doors barrie Common Causes of Premature Aginggarage door opener outside keypad Your garage door spring, like any other metal component, can be affected detrimentally by wetter climates. weird door knobs for sale

Moisture on the metal creates an environment ripe for rust. Rust buildup causes the core friction to increase, thus wearing down the metal of the spring even more rapidly. Cold is another serious factor. Steel contracts and becomes more brittle with severe cold weather. It’s therefore logical that garage door springs most often break in cold weather. garage door keypad costAfter a cold night, the unsuspecting homeowner expects the garage spring to perform its duty as it does every other morning. craftsman front door houstonBut without being allowed to gradually warm up just a bit, a loud crack will let you know it’s taken more stress than it could handle in the cold, and you’ve got a broken spring on your hands.internal folding doors pvc

Preventative Measures to Extend Life It’s so easy to prevent the wear and tear caused by both of these environmental factors. In order to prevent rust, every three months or so, spray it with a silicone coating spray. Some advice: avoid WD-40, which is a lubricant rather than a silicone coating spray, particularly if you park your car in the garage, because WD-40 eats paint. And when cold weather strikes, try two things: listen, and warm up. Allow the day to warm up the garage for as long as you can prior to opening the garage; if you have a space heater, in extreme cold, it might offer some assistance in this regard. Then, make sure you listen very carefully as the garage door opens. Stop the lift as soon as you here the slightest irregular creaking. 5,514 posts, read 6,514,838 times 12,086 posts, read 29,553,141 times Originally Posted by d4g4m Sears Garage door openers are made by the Chamberlin Group, which makes most of the other brand names as well, so this applies to most door openers out there.

After working as an overhead door Installer I have to say I have NEVER had to change a drive gear, it just doesn't happen very often. As for the rest of your post, there are a couple glaring falsehoods that I have heard some installers tell their customers and that are "common knowledge" that is WRONG. It will increase your problems and shorten the life of springs, rollers, and openers by making them work too hard. Every 6 months, spray the spring with WD40 so rust doesn't form. Wait a few minutes for it to soak. Wipe excess from bottom so it doesn't drip on door when it's open.WD-40 is a water displacement spray and DOESN'T provide any lubrication. Spray with a silicone based lubricating spray lightly. It will block moisture and provide lubrication so the spring coils can slide by each other without binding. After spraying work the door up and down a few times to work the lube in between the spring coils. (perfect time to check spring tension as well, disconnect operator and work the door by hand.)

If you have grease, wipe some on the full length of the track bar bottom.Grease collects dust and dirt making the opener work harder to raise your door, plus it gets stiff with age making it wear the rollers quicker as well. You should do nothing more than spray the rollers with the same spray used on the springs. Grease ANYWHERE on an overhead door is to be avoided like the plague, especially in cold weather areas of the Country. A light spray from a good quality lubricating spray will do wonders for the longevity of a garage door. The BEST stuff I found ever is a product called "Super Slick Slick Stuff" and while the name is rather stupid sounding, it works great. Another good one if you can't find Super Slick is the "3 in 1" products. I haven't used their garage door spray lube, but have used their regular spray lube and it works very well. Lightly spray the chain. Spray the ball bearing of the wheels [usually 10] make sure they turn. Spray in the wheel shaft holders.

Spray the pinch points of the hinges [usually 15] Test for door weight/spring tension balance- disengage manual emergency release cord. Lift door to half way. Door should maintain position and not fall. If it falls, door spring needs adjusting. Change the battery in the remote opener if more than 5 years old.The above list is a good list to do on a regular basis. Only thing I would add is when you lube the rollers and spring is to give the door opener rail a quick spray as well. After working for YEARS on doors and openers I can truthfull say I have NEVER had to change a drive gear. WD40 - lubricates, cleans, loosens, desolves rust, protects against rust forming, penetrates, displaces water [that causes rust] Works for me! Doesn't lube nearly as well as most other spray's though. If it works for you in the short term, great. After replacing MANY, MANY rollers that home-owners used WD-40 only on, I wouldn't put it on a garage door. No need to purchase a can of silicone spray and a tube of silicone lubricant if WD40 is on hand.