So, my garage door spring broke last night, and the cables went a bit wild. I really need to open the door to clear some space for the professionals coming to fix it, but the scheduler told me there's no way to open the door with a broken spring. Is there a way to do this manually? Also, if I do manage to get it open, how can I safely prop it open for a couple of days?
3 Answers
Using a couple of come-a-longs can help a lot! Attach one to each rail, and pull the door up an inch at a time. It's a slow process, but you’ll keep it balanced this way and avoid any mishaps. I’ve done this in the past when I had spring issues, and it worked! Just take your time and be careful.
You can manually open it by disconnecting the latch on the opener and lifting the door. Just a heads up, older doors can be quite heavy, but there shouldn't be anything holding it back. To keep it propped open safely, use a couple of 2x4s on either side. Just make sure not to kick them out! Alternatively, you could clamp it with vice grips after lifting it, which seems safer if you're a bit worried about it falling.
Definitely get some extra help if you can! A free-falling garage door without springs can be very dangerous. Like, I know someone who had a really bad accident when his door closed on him while he was on a ladder. He ended up with severe injuries, so block or clamp the door securely once it's up. Take precautions!