Garage Door Springs: If you have those long springs on either side of your garage door, you probably noticed the cable running through it. If you don't have that cable, add it...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you have those long springs on either side of your garage door, you probably noticed the cable running through it. If you don't have that cable, add it immediately! One of the springs on my garage door broke yesterday, but the cable kept it in place. I bought a pair at Lowe's yesterday ($23), and I'll put them on today. In case you didn't know, those springs are color-coded according to strength. Make sure your springs still have their color. The color on mine was mostly worn away.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Five or six years ago, I was standing in our garage when one of the springs snapped. The internal cable saved the day. If you’ve never experienced it, it’s not a sound you’ll soon forget. A worthwhile suggestion, Jerry.

kerry12 Loc: Harrisburg, Pa.

jerryc41 wrote:

If you have those long springs on either side of your garage door, you probably noticed the cable running through it. If you don't have that cable, add it immediately! One of the springs on my garage door broke yesterday, but the cable kept it in place. I bought a pair at Lowe's yesterday ($23), and I'll put them on today. In case you didn't know, those springs are color-coded according to strength. Make sure your springs still have their color. The color on mine was mostly worn away.

You are absolutely right and it's a fairly easy fix you can do yourself. My son-in-law and I fixed mine about 5 years ago. took maybe 30 to 45 minutes.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

47greyfox wrote:

Five or six years ago, I was standing in our garage when one of the springs snapped. The internal cable saved the day. If you’ve never experienced it, it’s not a sound you’ll soon forget. A worthwhile suggestion, Jerry.

I heard a loud sound yesterday morning, and I thought a tree had fallen - quite loud.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

When we move into our house with dual garage doors, the door with the opener had the safety cables going through the springs, the other did not. I added the cables to the second door ASAP!!!
They have been known to kill/maim people when they break.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Longshadow wrote:

When we move into our house with dual garage doors, the door with the opener had the safety cables going through the springs, the other did not. I added the cables to the second door ASAP!!!
They have been known to kill/maim people when they break.

Not to mention what they would do to the car.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jerryc41 wrote:

Not to mention what they would do to the car.

Repairable inconvenience.
I might not be.

kufengler Loc: Meridian, Idaho 83646

jerryc41 wrote:

If you have those long springs on either side of your garage door, you probably noticed the cable running through it. If you don't have that cable, add it immediately! One of the springs on my garage door broke yesterday, but the cable kept it in place. I bought a pair at Lowe's yesterday ($23), and I'll put them on today. In case you didn't know, those springs are color-coded according to strength. Make sure your springs still have their color. The color on mine was mostly worn away.

You're talking about the springs that run the same direction as the tracks on either side I take it. I've never seen a door with those mine are the spring that has a rod that goes through the springs.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

kufengler wrote:

You're talking about the springs that run the same direction as the tracks on either side I take it. I've never seen a door with those mine are the spring that has a rod that goes through the springs.

The old spring style is illegal to install in many places now, exactly for the springs flying reason.
We had a one piece double garage door in Florida where one spring blew YEARS ago.
The contractor said they they are not allowed to replace it anymore. We had to get a dual axle spring over the door opening like you have pictured, and a new four section door. They can't put an axle spring over the door for one piece doors, the physics of the lift mechanism.
Ours in our current house (from 1960) still have the side springs, with safety cables of course.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

kufengler wrote:

You're talking about the springs that run the same direction as the tracks on either side I take it. I've never seen a door with those mine are the spring that has a rod that goes through the springs.

If this is the only kind of garage door you've ever encountered you must be very young. When I was a kid all garages were the old "lift up" style. They take the springs that Jerry is talking about. Some of them took just one spring on each side, and some take 2 on each side. The roll up door like yours has the spring above the door. Those can also break over time. I've had to replace 2 of them over the years. Luckily my doors weren't damage when they broke. I've seen a door that came crashing down and damage most if not all of the panels where the entire door had to be replaced. When mine broke the door only crashed down a few inches. If yours ever breaks, try to lift the door. They are very heavy and some if no most will not stay in the up position without the spring.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

kufengler wrote:

You're talking about the springs that run the same direction as the tracks on either side I take it. I've never seen a door with those mine are the spring that has a rod that goes through the springs.

I have a spring like that on my larger garage with a wider door. I wasn't comfortable winding it tighter and tighter, but it's still working. At least if it fails, it's not going anywhere.

The smaller garage has a door on either end, with that type of spring on both.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jeep_daddy wrote:

I've seen a door that came crashing down and damage most if not all of the panels where the entire door had to be replaced.

Yes, that's a real concern. If someone is standing under the door when a spring fails, it could be messy. I'm surprised there isn't a requirement for a safety catch, like they have on auto lifts in mechanics' shops.

EDIT: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) has reported statistics on garage door accidents showing that more than 2,000 people per year are crushed by garage doors, and more than 7,500 people are pinched during garage door operation. Only about 100 of these are caused by personal negligence, like a child or pet trying to dash under a closing door.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jeep_daddy wrote:

If this is the only kind of garage door you've eve... (show quote)

That's why they put the new door springs on an axle over the door, they don't fly through the garage when they break. BIG noise, but they stay put. (I had one fail one time.)
Most <new> garage door openers cannot lift a door with a broken spring because the weight is no longer counterbalanced sufficiently.

stu352 Loc: MA/RI Border

Heard a bang from the attached garage one morning. Looked in, all looked ok, no damage to my antique car, etc. Later walked into the garage and noticed a small chunk of brick on the floor... One of the coil springs on the garage door had broken. It was right next to the chimney, and expended it's released energy on that. I replaced the springs on both doors after that, with the steel cables inside to contain any future failures.

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

I know from first hand experience, a garage door spring can easily fling 170 lbs the length of a standard garage... and break bones in the process. Fortunately, my car was still outside and could drive myself to the hospital.