I came home this weekend to a broken garage door spring:



From a quick Google search, I find that there is a mix of "call a professional" and "fix it yourself". What does AZine think? Should I call a pro or attempt to fix it myself? I'm fairly handy if that makes a difference.

If I am to fix it myself, is this a part I can pick up at the local Ace Hardware or Home Depot?

If I should leave it to the pros, anybody have a garage door repairman recommendation for my area (Tracy)?

 

use a pro, those springs are under a LOT of tension and can break bones like they are twigs. Call an independent company; usually they have some of the best deals and pricing around. Don't call up sears or a big box co. they are going to rip you off.

 

I've always had them done for me, and I am pretty mechanically inclined. It's hard to beat the convenience because it's not that expensive to have them done. I can get one fixed within a few hours of it breaking.

 

This... I'm sure a friend of a friend will know a guy that can do the work.

 

agreed

 

It doesn't appear to be under pressure at the moment. I've never worked on a torsion style like you have. The extension style are pretty easy to replace. I did them myself. If you want to do it yourself I would imagine you can find a video on youtube.

 

Adding my voice in agreement. I had one of these break (sounded like someone shot a gun in my garage) and there's no doubt that the tension on these can make this dangerous.

 

Hmm, well, I don't know what to do. The majority of you say to have a pro do it, but the poll is leaning towards Whiskers.

So, uh...I guess the poll is out.

I'll call a pro. I could probably replace the broken one myself, but from what I've read it's recommended to replace both springs (makes sense). I don't want to mess with the spring currently under tension...

 

everything I've read said not to mess with the torsion springs, the other ones are easy to replace. I know you can do it, but it's much more dangerous when dealing with the torsion ones

EDIT: Good move

 

A repair guy will be out between 11am and 1pm

 

^ Wise choice. My brother in law's father had one of those springs go through his cheek and break half of his teeth out. The tension they're under is no joke.

 

Yikes!

 

Good choice calling someone. When mine broke I called the hardware store to see if the had them in stock. The guy asked me what color the spring was. When I said "rust" he implored me not to try it myself. His words were somewhere along the lines of "Do Not Fuck With That!" Turns out that the extension type springs are color coded for the weight of the door, and that's what he thought I had.

 

All fixed. $255 later new springs and rollers. I don't know if that was a good deal or not, but the customer service of the company was top notch.

The door is much easier to lift by hand with the new springs and is much quieter. I like!

 

$250 isn't bad. I value my life a lot more than the $250, that's for sure.

 

agree... i have also only done extension springs.. those are easy... i wouldn't mess with these...

 

I have the same problem and was tempted to do it. when these break, do chunks fly off? Curious because it sounds like it would damage a car or person.