Getting ready to replace garage door torsion springs can be a daunting task. It doesn’t happen too often to see springs that break down but they are subject to wear and tear like any other part. When that time comes to replace them it would be advised to check out a few things before starting the work as it can be not only dangerous but also frustrating.
1. Garage Door Spring Type
Garage door manufacturers do not use standardized parts. Each maker has his own springs and parts which means that there are thousands of torsion springs on the market. The best way to make sure that the part bought is the right one is to take a picture of it and get its measurements.
2. Safety
Garage door springs are always under tension. When removing one it is possible to suffer from a severe injury such as broken limbs, fingers and in some extreme cases it can lead to life loss. It is important to use the right tools and try to stay away from the path and avoid facing the cones directly. Old springs can break when they are unwinding which can cause injury. Staying away from the cones is one of the most important safety measures.
3. Using The Right Tools
Most garage door springs can be unwind using the same tools even if the springs are different one from another. To get the job done an adjustable wrench will be required along with a solid ladder, winding bars and two 10 inch wise grips.
4. Knowing How To Do It
An average individual will need to change the springs once every decade or so depending on the quality of the springs which means that this doesn’t happen very often. This means that a simple homeowner might not have the required experience to unwind, release the garage door spring torsion and replace it. There are quite a few detailed videos on how to do it and more than enough articles that show step by step how to replace a spring. Even with all these tutorials the risk of having an accident is still real. It is safer when the person doing it knows how to do it but there lack of experience increases the chance of getting injured. There is no 100% safe way to do it which makes it much more appealing to hire someone else to do it if they have more experience with garage door springs.
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