3 Reasons Not to Attempt Fixing Garage Door Problems Yourself
Common Dangers Exist for the Untrained Homeowner
If your garage uses torsion springs, the dangers of attempting to replace the broken spring can be immense. Common sense suggests that both springs be replaced in the event that one breaks they have a pretty common shelf-life (e.g 10,000 cycles) so when one breaks, the other is statistically likely to break soon also.
Replacing a broken spring is no walk in the park the spring must be properly installed and tightened the right amount but attempting to replace the spring that is not broken (yet) is significantly more dangerous. Tightly wound springs could snap/break and injure you if removed incorrectly.
Additional risks include the weight of the garage door and/or the parts are you fit enough to lift them by yourself or do you need someone else to assist you? For those that are a little clumsy, using a ladder to reach the the springs and/or garage parts could pose additional risk. These last two might seem a bit of stretch for an argument not to repair your garage yourself, but when you combine them with the inexperience of fixing the door/equipment itself, the risk increases exponentially. One small accident is all it takes to put you in the hospital.
Replacement Springs Are Difficult for Consumers to Purchase
Due to safety concerns and potential lawsuits for mishaps related to Do-It-Yourself junkies replacing their own garage torsion springs, manufacturers and distributors often will not sell to the general public. While this is certainly inconvenient for skilled individuals who want to fix their own garages, it’s primarily a safety precaution to keep many untrained homeowners from attempting the task on their own.
Certified garage door repair companies have quick access to replacement springs and should be utilized when a problem arises. When time is of the essence, a repair company is the best option.
Time Requirements
Let’s face it even if you have the skills to fix your own garage door, would you really want to spend hours attempting to? Especially if you’re not skilled with tools and/or common garage repair equipment (e.g. spring torsion tools), you would really be wasting your time on the job.
Additionally, if you’re a busy person with work, kids and other activities, you’ll probably not be able to fix your garage for a few days perhaps not until the nearest weekend. Most garage repair companies can arrive the same-day or within 24 hrs and have your garage working again.When time is of the essence, a repair company is the best option.