Garage doors are incredibly heavy, but modern ones include numerous safety mechanisms. A properly functioning garage door should never fall suddenly or violently, and even a garage door in exceptionally poor condition shouldn't usually pose a danger. Unfortunately, neglecting problems with your door for too long can create potentially hazardous situations.
While your door's springs are incredibly dangerous to work on, they're also one of your door's primary safety features. Your springs balance the door and support its weight, ensuring you can lift it easily, even without a motorized opener. If your door falls suddenly or seems exceptionally hard to lift, your springs may be to blame.
When Do You Need to Worry?
A properly balanced and maintained garage door should open and close smoothly and remain in position at any height. If the door won't open or you hear your door opener's motor struggling to lift it, a spring may have failed or be failing. The tracks may also have a severe issue, causing multiple wheels to slip loose from their slots.
Either situation is potentially very dangerous. Avoid using your garage door if it will not open smoothly, appears to be unbalanced as it opens, or if the door refuses to remain in a neutral position. Some garage doors can weigh as much as 400 lbs., creating the potential for severe injury or even death if the door falls without warning.
Can You Keep Using a Faulty Garage Door?
If your garage door is experiencing any of the symptoms described above, the best course of action is to stop using the door immediately. Without careful examination, it may be impossible to know the underlying cause. Continuing to use the door may also exacerbate some issues, especially if your door's wheels are popping loose from their tracks.
It's also important to understand that your door opener's motor expects your door's springs to carry much of the weight. While some openers can lift a substantial amount of weight, forcing them to do so will strain the motor and may lead to expensive damage or even premature failure. In most cases, opening your door one more time isn't worth the potential costs.
What Should You Do Next?
Whether you need to contact an emergency door repair service will depend on your current situation and the urgency of accessing your garage. If you need to get into your garage immediately, scheduling an emergency repair is usually the best option. A garage door specialist can assess the situation, determine what repairs are needed, and restore safe access to your garage.
For more info about emergency garage door repair, contact a local company.
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