Before you pull your hair out, one of the most common reasons for garage doors to stop working, without warning, is broken torsion springs.

What is a torsion spring?

A torsion spring counterbalance system consists of one or two tightly wound up springs on a steel shaft with cable drums at both ends. When the garage door is raised, the springs unwind and the stored tension lifts the door by turning the shaft, thus turning the cable drums, wrapping the cables around the grooves on the cable drums. When the door is lowered, the cables unwrap from the drums and the springs are rewound to full tension.

How long do they typically last?

Most garage door manufacturers and dealers either produce or sell garage doors fitted with torsion springs that have a minimum of 10,000 – 15,000 cycles which is estimated to last between 3 to 7 years. What causes them to break?

Factors that can drastically shorten the lifespan of your torsion spring include: adding glass, additional insulation, or even several coats of paint to your garage door. Other factors like poor garage door maintenance, loose tracks, or components will shorten the life of torsion springs. Unfortunately, the main reason torsion springs break is daily wear and tear over the years.

Who should replace a torsion spring?

It is ill advised that you try to replace torsions springs yourself. There are several points on the springs under quite a bit of pressure, and if you are a garage door novice, replacing them on your own can result in serious injury. It’s recommended that you call your local garage door repair guys, if only for your personal safety. Replacing torsion springs typically runs anywhere between $175 and $250, which is well worth your piece of mind, but more importantly, your safety.
If you suspect your garage door may not be working because of broken torsion springs, contact Certified Garage Door Inc. today! $175 Garage Door Spring Repair

• Timer-to-Close feature allows the door to automatically close after a pre-programmed number of minutes

• Auto-force feature constantly monitors garage door system and adjusts forces to temperature fluctuations, floor height, and door track movement.

• The Smart Garage Door Opener® lets you electronically program security codes from the Multi-Function Control Panel or the powerhead.

• Enclosed gear case provides continous lubrication for longer life and smoother operation

• A 6-foot power cord strong> makes connecting to a power source easier than ever

• Whole-garage lighting with adjustable light time delay; compatible with CFL bulbs.

• Energy-efficient operation consumes up to 75% less power in standby mode.

• HOMELINK® compatible with QuickTrain™ technology.

• Meets all UL325 requirements

$375 Installed
w/ 1 remote & 1 control panel
Includes all taxes and fees.
Purchase an additional remote + keypad $60
Extra remote $25

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• Auto-force feature constantly monitors garage door system and adjusts forces to temperature fluctuations, floor height, and door track movement.

• The Smart Garage Door Opener® lets you electronically program security codes from the Multi-Function Control Panel or the powerhead.

• Whole-garage lighting with adjustable light time delay; compatible with CFL bulbs.

• Energy-efficient operation consumes up to 75% less power in standby mode.

• HOMELINK® compatible with QuickTrain™ technology.

• Meets all UL325 requirements

$355 Installed
w/ 1 remote & 1 control panel
Includes all taxes and fees.
Purchase an additional remote + keypad $60
Extra remote $25

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Through a cutting-edge, two-way communication system, the new lineup of LiftMaster openers enabled by MyQ technology has the ability to manage and activate other MyQ-enabled devices within the home. Homeowners can turn lights on or off in the home or operate the garage door with a remote or from anywhere in the world using a cell phone or computer.

By simply plugging the LiftMaster Internet Gateway into an existing router with a live internet connection, homeowners can now monitor and control their garage door opener and 15 additional devices enabled by MyQ technology from anywhere in the world using a smart phone or a personal computer. Once a homeowner or installer plugs in the LiftMaster Internet Gateway accessory to their existing internet connection they will be able to manage their Lift-Master openers and all other MyQ enabled devices on MyLiftMaster.com. In addition to this web site, homeowners can also obtain the LiftMaster app where all apps are sold, and control their MyQ registered devices from their Droid, iPhone, iPad or any other smart phone. The gateway allows access from anywhere, not just from within the home, providing a truly elevated level of freedom and control.

The LiftMaster Garage Door Monitor (Model 829LM) displays the status of the garage door from within any room of the house. This innovative base station receives an alert from the garage door opener, which has the sensor built in to the system. If the door is open, the garage door opener will alert the base station which will blink red and an audible noise will sound; if the door is closed, the garage door opener will inform the base station and the light on the monitor will illuminate green until the status of the door changes.This feature offers the homeowner added convenience and peace-of-mind that their garage door is open or closed when it should be. Now, our customers never have to enter a dark home with the LiftMaster Remote Light Control. These adaptors, enabled by MyQ technology, plug into the wall outlet or socket. By plugging any household lamp or light fixture into the Remote Light Control adaptor, our customers can easily and conveniently manage that light; switch it on or off with a simple press of a remote button or brighten up their entrance way to the home, front hallway, kitchen or living room as they pull into the driveway, providing added visibility and security.

1.) Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to maintain your garage door system is to lubricate the hinges. We recommend using a heavy-duty silicone spray for the best results. If you have black plastic hinges, lubrication is not necessary.

The majority of hinges are made of metal. With the garage door closed, spray each of the hinges on the outside of the hinge (where metal meets metal). Also, while you’re at it, you might as well inspect the other hardware components of your system for damage or wear. The parts include: rollers, cables, drums, and other brackets. Make sure that all bolts and screws are tight.

2.) The most important thing you can do is check the balance of the garage door. This refers to the ability of the springs to counter-balance the weight of the garage door. When the springs start to fatigue, they will no longer be able to completely balance the garage door. This will cause the door to become heavy, which will slowly destroy your garage door opener.

To check the balance: Disengage the garage door from the opener by pulling the red-handled emergency release cord. This will allow you to move the garage door independently from the opener (manually). Then, move it up and down by hand a few times to see if there are any obvious sources of friction. If the door feels heavy, call Certified Garage Door, Inc. To test the balance raise the door until the 2nd roller from the top is in the radius of the tracks (the bottom of the door will be about knee-high above the floor). In this position, most of the door will be in the vertical position- therefore, most of the weight will want to come down with gravity. The springs should stop this from happening! So if the door slides down, or slams down, this indicates that the springs are fatigued- and you should plan to have a trained technician come to inspect it!

3.) Checking the safety sensors might seem like a no-brainer, but many times they are the cause of a malfunctioning unit. Make sure that the sensors are pointed directly at each other and move any obstructions out of the way. If this does not work, call Certified Garage Door, Inc. 

As summer begins, many people on Florida’s Gulf Coast prepare for the devastating storms by stocking up on essentials, checking the generator and making sure that their home is secured. While these things are important, making sure that your garage door is secure is just as necessary.

A garage door can collapse into the garage and cause major damage to a vehicle or other valuable items stored. Even worse, a door that comes loose can become an air born projectile and can cause even more damage to life and property.

You probably have a few questions about securing your garage door. If so, take a look through our Hurricane Preparedness Q & A below.

Hurricane Preparedness

The new update enables customers to see the garage door from an exterior point of view as well as interior. The exterior view shows the door from a long distance point of view as well as close up. The interior analysis helps customers to specify one-, two- or three-layer construction during the design process. This helps buyers understand how the door is constructed and also educate consumers as to why one may choose a three-layer door instead of a two-layer.

Click here to visit CloPay’s Garage Door Imagination System

I support family-run businesses if I can. This one is. Thanks for fixing the torsion springs for our garage on Monday, 9am. God Bless you richly. The phone # listed on the front page is so much easier to contact.

Replaced both torsion springs; Certified Garage Door Inc. did the work in a timely manner. Great professional service and fairly priced. Ian and Kevin, you have earned my business.

I was surprise that what was advertised is what I received. It is usually a low quote, but when the techs arrives the amount is double. Thanks again for being honest.