Dealing with broken springs can be such a hassle especially if you need to get your car out of the garage immediately. These springs are responsible for holding the force mainly to open and close your garage door. And when it breaks, it becomes a frustrating problem for homeowners like you.
Garage door springs ensure you have a smooth operation opening and closing your garage door. When one of them breaks, opening your door safely becomes a challenging task.
Although we discourage you from dealing with broken springs on your own, we will list down the steps you can take to safely open your garage for urgent situations.
Broken Spring Issue
There are mainly two types of springs: torsion springs and extension springs. While these two types of springs are different in terms of operation, they both hold the force that allows you to operate your automatic garage door safely.
Garage door springs are made from steel and unfortunately, once they’re broken, they cannot be repaired. A replacement is the only option to deal with this issue.
If you experience any of these situations, then you’re definitely dealing with a broken spring:
- Your garage door opener motor runs but the door remains closed.
- You hear your opener trying to open the door but failing at the same time.
- You hear the spring break – it’s usually a loud pop sound.
- The garage door is misaligned.
Understanding Possible Risks
Trying to open your garage door with a broken spring can be extremely dangerous. And before deciding to handle the situation yourself, you should be aware of the hazards and potential injury it can cause.
It’s vital to take note of these:
- Risk of Injury – garage door springs work under great tension and a sudden release of that can lead to serious injuries. You may be at risk of cuts, bruises, or in extreme cases, even broken bones. You should know that mishandling the door or attempting to repair the spring yourself can result in severe accidents.
- Possible Further Damage – when you decide to open the door yourself without professional help, you’re putting your garage door under the possibility of further damage. Trying to force open the garage door can lead to additional damage to the door, tracks, and other components. For safe garage door spring repair we suggest you call our hotline to get the problem solved professionally.
- Property Damage – replacing garage door springs requires adequate knowledge of the task. If an inexperienced homeowner tries to resolve the issue on their own, they’re putting their property at risk of damage. If a garage door falls down, it can damage vehicles, their garage, and other belongings, and even injure bystanders or a helper.
- Safety Precautions – to ensure your safety, avoid standing under, beside, or near an unsecured garage door with a broken spring. If you’re doubtful of your skill as well, please don’t attempt to open it yourself.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Open Garage Door Manually with a Broken Spring
Opening a garage door that has broken springs is not advisable to do. However, for urgent or emergency situations, we’re listing down the steps on how you can safely do it until professional help becomes available.
Again, this will take some manual effort so remember to exercise the proper precautions at all times. Prioritize your safety and the safety of others above everything else. If you are uncomfortable or unsure about any step, our 24/7 emergency hotline is available – contact us.
Here are the steps on how to get your garage door open with a broken spring:
Step 1 – Disconnect the Garage Door Opener
The first step would be unplugging your garage door opener from the electrical outlet. Then, locate the Emergency Release Cord (ERC) – this is the red cord that hangs in the middle of the rail. Pull down the handle to disengage the garage door from the opener. You’re then set to manually open the garage door.
Do not attempt to use the door opener with broken springs – it can cause the motor to burn. Alternatively, if you think the issue is with the opener, you may read this blog to guide you on how to reset garage door opener.
Step 2 – Secure the Door
Once the door has been disconnected from the door opener, you have to secure it with something sturdy. This should prevent the door from falling suddenly. Using a sturdy wooden block or vice grip definitely helps.
Step 3 – Have Helpers (if you can)
For a single-car garage door, one person can probably suffice opening it. But for larger doors, like 16x7ft ones, we suggest getting a helper. The bigger the door, the more weight it has. And this can be physically demanding for a single person. So if you can, please seek an assistant that is capable of helping.
Step 4 – Lift Manually
Position yourself in the middle of the door if you’re lifting it alone. If you have found a helper, position yourselves on either side of the door. Grab the door at the bottom and start lifting. Maintain a firm grip while lifting, use your core and leg muscles to generate power and lift gradually.
Step 5 – Lift by Sections
Instead of trying to lift the door in one go, we suggest you lift by sections. Place a sturdy object underneath the door every time you lift a section. With this method, you can minimize the physical strain on your body. Do this until the door is completely open.
Step 6 – Secure the Open Door and Your Surroundings
Now that you have your door open, the final step is to secure it from closing again. Use C-clamps or locking pliers on the garage door tracks to prevent the door from sliding back down. It’s located on the top just above the rollers.
You can read this next blog to learn how to manually close the garage door after opening it.
Why You Need to Call for Professional Help
While it can be tempting to replace the broken springs yourself, given all the safety risks and precautions we mentioned earlier, it would be best to leave it for professional technicians.
Here are some reasons to call the experts for garage door repair in Los Angeles:
- Expertise – garage door professionals have the knowledge, experience, tools, and training to handle situations like a spring replacement executing the task safely.
- Proper Repair – with the expertise of our specialists, you can be sure you’re getting the correct repair of your garage door. Not only do we replace your springs, but we also inspect your garage door to ensure it is working properly and without other potential problems you may have overlooked.
- Warranty – reputable garage door technicians like Rock Garage Door Repair Company offer a warranty to our clients. You can be sure you’re getting the best service with your money’s worth every time you call us for a repair or installation.
If you need an expert in handling garage door issues, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us! Our 24/7 emergency service is available to Los Angeles and nearby residents.
