Why Is My Garage Door So Heavy? 5 Signs of a Broken Torsion Spring
Have you ever tried to open your garage door manually only to find it feels like lifting a ton of bricks? Or perhaps your automatic opener is making a desperate grinding sound as it struggles to move the door just a few inches? If your once-smooth garage door suddenly feels impossibly heavy, you are likely dealing with a broken torsion spring. A standard garage door can weigh anywhere from 150 to 500 pounds. The springs act as the "muscles" of the system, neutralizing that weight so the door can be moved with a single hand or a small electric motor. When that muscle tears, the results are immediate and frustrating. Understanding the warning signs of a failing spring can help you avoid being trapped in your garage and prevent expensive damage to your opener. How Torsion Springs Work Torsion springs are located on a metal rod above the door opening. As the door closes, cables attached to the bottom corners pull on the drums, tightly winding the coils. This stores energy. When y...