While your garage offers a protective home for your vehicle, sometimes dealing with the garage door can be enough to wish you didn't even have a garage to begin with. The torsion spring is the spring located at the top of the door and is responsible for proper opening and closing of the door. If you're dealing with garage door spring issues, the steps below will help you to find the problem and figure out possible solutions.

Troubleshooting the Problem

If you suspect trouble with your garage door's springs, there are a few things you can do to further narrow down the issue. The majority of garage doors operate with the help of a remote, so your first step will be to temporarily disconnect the remote system so that you can open and close the door manually. The simple act of lifting up and pulling down the door can help you to diagnose the issue and decide whether it's spring related. A door that lifts up too easily, almost jumping from your grasp, means that the springs are too tight and need to be loosened. A door that is too difficult to lift needs more tension.

Possible Solutions

Springs play a big role in the working of your garage door -- from helping it to lift without issue to helping it to close safely and easily. After narrowing down the exact issue, you're ones step closer to getting your garage door back to work.

Depending on the problem, your springs may just need a simple adjustment, or they may need to be replaced altogether. A garage door that won't open at all is likely due to a broken torsion spring and will need complete replacement. If the door will open but is having trouble staying open, a simple adjustment of the tension springs should fix the problem. Other issues that may warrant adjustments include doors that stall while opening or doors that have trouble settling all the way when closed.

When to Call in the Professionals

Torsion springs, which are one the more common causes of garage door opening and closing issues, can be dangerous and may require professional handling.

When working on this spring, the high pressure can cause problems for the inexperienced and unequipped. Without the proper training and the proper tools, adjusting or replacing these springs can cause serious bodily harm. If you're unsure of what you're doing, consult a professional garage door contractor.

With proper maintenance, your garage door need not be the bane of your existence. If you're dealing with garage door issues and, if after narrowing down the problem you feel unqualified to handle the situation, call in garage door repair professionals. One place you can call is America's Garage Doors LLC.