DIY Garage Door Spring Replacement – A Bad Idea
By ProMatcher Staff
One of the key elements of a garage door is the spring (or springs) that counterbalance the weight of the door. Over time, these springs can wear out and break. When it comes time to replace a spring, you may consider doing it yourself. Before you get started, we hope that you consider the following:
1. You could seriously injure yourself.
Garage door springs are especially dangerous. In 2007, 313 people were injured after being hit by their garage spring. The springs are tightly wound. When the tension is released, they have the potential to cause a lot of damage. If you are standing too close when the spring breaks, you could lose a finger. Just check out the video above to see what could happen. Watching a YouTube video is just not enough training.
2. You could fall off a ladder.
Over 500,000 people are treated for ladder injuries each year in the U.S! In most cases you’ll need to use a ladder to replace the spring. It may not be a really tall ladder, but the vast majority of ladder injuries actually occur from less than ten feet high.
3. You may not have the tools.
Replacing a garage door spring requires special equipment that you may not have. Don't try to make do with a screw driver or other power tools. If you are going to do-it-yourself, make sure that you use the correct winding bars.
4. You may be in over your head.
Spring replacement can be pretty complicated. Although many professionals make it look easy, spring replacement is not a DIY project for beginners. If you’re still not convinced, check out this 18-minute video and extensive list of instructions. Do you really have the time to learn this brand new skill?
5. You could make the problem worse.
Without the proper tools and know-how, you may actually make the problem worse. You could wind the spring too tightly, you might buy the wrong size spring, or you could even wind the spring in the wrong direction. Not only could you damage your garage door, but you could end up hurting yourself in the process.
6. We make it easy to find a pro for the job.
Use ProMatcher's free matching service to get price quotes from pros in your local area. We recommend that you request at least 2-3 quotes before hiring a contractor. It's also important to verify licensing information and insurance coverage before signing a contract.
About the Author
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| ProMatcher Staff, ProMatcher
Orlando, FL 32803
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