When you leave, your garage door bids you farewell. When you come home, it's the first thing to welcome you. And what makes the whole automatic thing possible? Garage springs.

Today's garage doors work one of two ways, but both use springs to get the job done.  Torsion springs (also called torsion coils) are located just above the closed garage door. Extension springs are located on both sides of the upper tracks.

Put a garage spring in your step.

When you are doing your monthly garage door safety check, pay attention to the springs and show them some love. They deserve it.

• Do they squeak? Squeaky wheels get oil, and so do squeaky springs. Try a little garage door lubricant to see if they stop complaining (if that doesn't work, call us).
• Are they out of balance? When extension springs are out of balance, the garage door can be difficult to operate, even in the manual setting. Get the problem looked at by a professional before other, more serious complications result.
• Are they fully connected to the door? Over time, unbalanced doors can wreak havoc on all of its parts, including where the high-tension springs connect to the door. Failure to catch this problem early can result in severe injury, particularly if the spring snaps.

Garage springs are nothing to be trifled with--they are under a lot of tension, and when messed with inappropriately, they can cause severe injury. So how do you fix a broken garage spring? If you suspect your garage coils (springs) are about to give up, call a professional as soon as possible.

If your garage isn't opening or closing correctly with your remote, click below for our guide: 6 Signs You Need a New Garage Door. It's complete with tips for getting your garage door working again!

Also, our new Garage Door Openers 101 guide is here complete with access to videos and answers to your opener questions.