Garage door crashed down!

6 years ago

As i was about to pull out of the garage, my garage door came crashing down with extreme speed and sound. My heart is still racing from the incident. The door is only 3 years old and was installed by a professional. I just started putting my car in the garage so the door has not been used that often. I have a repair guy coming this afternoon but I would like to be armed with some information before he gets here. Has this happened to anyone and is this "normal" for a fairly new door?

Featured Answer

User

6 years ago

A spring or two may have broken.

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Comments (10)

St561 W
Original Author
6 years ago
Even after the door gets repaired, I am going to be terrified to use the door!!
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DavidR
6 years ago
is this "normal"

No. Either the counterbalance spring has broken, or the door was improperly installed and it's otherwise failed.

Not to scare you, but be glad you weren't inside the garage when it let go. Garage door springs can hold a LOT of kinetic energy. They've killed and maimed careless door installers.

Even after the door gets repaired, I am going to be terrified to use the door!!

Well, you could always replace it with true carriage house doors (not a fake "carriage house style" overhead door). Yes, it's possible to get door openers for them. Neither doors nor openers are easy on your bank account, though.
toxcrusadr
6 years ago
If the repair guy (or gal) explained what was wrong with it and fixed it, there should be no reason to be terrified of a door. Try not to be terrified. :-]
HU-955941711
6 years ago
I wouldn't think that is was a failed spring as they normally break when the door is closed and they are under maximum stress.

Please post back as to what is found.
kathyg_in_mi
6 years ago
Bump
DavidR
6 years ago
Bump

Why? Besides, my ma taught me to always say "excuse me" when I bumped someone.
jennabennag
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
This happened at my house too. Except, it wasn't the spring but rather the bolts and screws came loose from the wall and thank God my husband and son had just pulled out into the driveway seconds before it crashed. Our garage door is very heavy and it would have seriously injured if not killed them. We needed four men to lift it even an inch while we made repairs. I now check the bolts and look at the wall and ceiling for fissures and cracks/signs of weakness constantly. I understand your terrified state of mind! Who would've thought that an everyday household feature would malfunction like that. Reminds me of a guillotine!!!!
Izzy Mn
6 years ago
My garage door failed like that with my car stuck inside. Had to call a garage door place to help get car out. Ended up just replacing the whole mess, needed a new door anyway.

It was actually the garage door opener that failed. It was installed incorrectly, by my husband. The bracket the opener was pulled out of wall, he had used nails instead of screws, also not done correctly.
kudzu9
6 years ago
Izzy-

I think that guy needs some supervision in the future... ;-)