Garage door springs can be a tricky thing to accomplish within almost every type of garage type. Therefore, it is important to fully understand how to go about it to ensure safety and a positive result.
How to Properly Release Springs on Your Garage Door
Working with garage door springs can be a daunting experience, to say the least. At the point where they need to be replaced, you will notice that they may be a little brittle, and thus, safety must be taken very seriously. This is why it is so important to understand not only what your springs do, but how they are connected and, ultimately, how to release springs properly. The following includes detailed information regarding the process of releasing springs correctly.
The Two Types of Springs
One of the first things you must understand is that there are two types of garage door springs that you may encounter. The first one is the torsion spring. This spring is held together by a stationary metal shaft located right above the center of the garage door frame. It is done this way to pull the door as easily as possible from the closest possible area. The second one is side-mounted springs. This type is located on the sides of the upper garage door track. They can lift the door up using pulleys.
Release Springs on a Side-Mounted Spring System
The way to release the tension of this type of spring is to lift the door until you can’t push it anymore. Use C-clamps to hold the door in place. After this, look for your manual red cord and pull it. You must then detach the safety cables. You may accomplish this by removing the old spring, which is attached to the track system and the other end of the spring, which is attached to the pulley. You can then attach the new springs. Once all these are done, give it a good once over to see if there is any damage. If so, it is highly recommended to seek the services of a Los Angeles garage door repair company.
Torsion Springs
Unlike the previous door type, to release a torsion spring, you must have it on the down position. This is a more dangerous type of spring to release, and thus it is highly recommended to bring on professionals to do the job properly. If you do decide to loosen this type of spring, you will need to locate your adjustment collar and place certain sized rods into them. These rods usually are the length of 18″ to 24″. These rods are then used to loosen the tension of the spring. Always makes sure to have the proper safety equipment needed, such as gloves and eye protection.