Garage door springs are easily the components of your garage door that work the hardest. These small metal coils handle the heft of the opening action, supporting the weight of the door as it opens and closes. However, these small components are so easily disregarded by the average homeowner that they barely ever get any attention in most cases. If you want to get the most life out of the garage door springs you have installed along with your new garage door, it is best to remember these three quick maintenance tips.

1. Lubricate the garage door springs on a regular basis. - Several times a year, grab a good can of spray lubricant and give the garage door springs a good coating of lubrication, paying close attention to hit every coil of the spring. Keeping the garage door springs well-lubricated will help to prevent problems with rust and corrosion, but it will also keep them moving freely, which will prevent stressing any weakened points. If you don't have spray lubricant on hand, you can give the springs a good rubdown with white lithium grease when the door is closed to achieve the same protection.

2. Avoid leaving one torsion spring to bear all the work. - If you pay close attention to the torsion springs, you will see that they work pretty much in unison with one another as the garage door opens and closes, but just one spring can bear the heft of the door in most cases. If you want to make sure that your garage doors springs last as long as possible, you have to make sure that both springs continue to work together. If one spring breaks, have it replaced immediately to prevent the same damage to the other spring.

3. Keep your garage door properly balanced. - An improperly balanced or out of line garage door will be harder to open and close than usual. This extra force can make it more difficult for garage door springs to support the weight of the door. Prevent putting excess stress on the torsion springs by keeping your garage door balanced. This can be checked by opening your garage door about halfway and using a level to determine if it is sitting at an equally balanced state. If it is not, adjust the torsion springs on the lowered side slightly until the garage door is at a balanced point.

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