Garage door spring-related accidents could occur if the springs aren’t strong enough to support the load of the door. In the event of this, it could cause the door to fall abruptly. If there’s someone under the door, this could result in a serious injury.
Garage door springs may be damaged if they’re:
- Manufacturing defects,
- worn-out old, corroded or rusted
- incorrectly installed.
If a spring fails, the garage door may fall down. They are very heavy, typically with a weight of around a hundred pounds. A large portion of the weight is supported by springs. Without the support of springs, there will not be enough to support the weight of the door.
To make the situation even more challenging, some garage door models with glass panels did not come with shatter-proof glass. If one of the designs is supported by springs that fail, the glass door panels could break when the door is dropped. This could cause additional injuries, too.
How Often Are These Accidents Occurring?
Garage doors with automatics can cause injury to more than 2,000 people each the year. A large portion of these injuries result of springs that have broken. The most serious injuries to garage doors are usually due to spring accidents.
What Can We Do to Stop Them?
There are four ways to avoid garage door springs from causing accidents:
- Make use of springs specially designed for your garage door.
- Have the springs fitted by a professional.
- Periodically check the springs.
- Engage a professional to maintain the old spring or put in an entirely new spring.
The best way to prevent the possibility of a spring-related accident at your garage is to make sure you use the correct springs that are suitable for the door. Different springs come with various tension rating. The tension ratings indicate how much weight the spring is able to take on. If the spring’s rating for tension is not enough for the door’s weight, it could wear out and break.
Employing a professional to set up the garage doors could also avoid accidents. Many believe that installing garage doors is an easy do-it-yourself or DIY project. But, if the spring tension isn’t right or the spring is not installed correctly, it could break. This could result in an accident or a serious injury.
The inspection of the springs on garage doors is essential. Anyone who is able to spot the indications of a weakening spring could repair it before it is broken. If the spring is already failed, it is possible to identify the issue so that the homeowner can make arrangements for an emergency repair before opening the door again. Sometimes, the fracture in the spring is obvious. The extension spring could be loose, or there could be a gap between coils of the torsion spring. In other instances, the best indication of a broken spring is on the doorway to your garage. It could be a spring problem if:
- The garage door is opened only an inch before closing again.
- You garage door does not even open.
- The garage door is bent at the time it is shut.
- Your garage door shuts faster or with greater force than usual.
Call the Pros Now
Engaging an expert to keep and replace your spring will also prevent serious injuries. Torsion springs that are broken require special equipment to fix. Homeowners who attempt to repair the springs themselves might cause the door to close around the springs. The springs that have been damaged are also subject to lots of tension. If they’re not removed from the doorway and they are damaged, they could lash out and strike the person. It can result in significant bruises, broken bones or even lacerations. In extreme situations, they may cause a finger to be severed or strike them in the head, causing severe injuries.
If you wish to consult to a professional, contact us right away. With us, at Little Rock Garage Door Repair, your safety is our utmost priority.