One fine morning, you get up to get ready for work, and as you press the button on your garage door remote, the door does not raise. You press the button a few more times but still nothing. That’s when you realize that there is some bigger problem; you cannot settle in a minute. Well, one potential problem is your garage door springs.

Have you had enough knowledge of your garage door parts and working, you wouldn’t run into any such problem. Therefore, here we bring a detailed guide on garage door springs. It will help you understand your garage door springs and prevent any such unfortunate issues.

Types of Garage Door Springs

Before you think of replacing your garage door springs, it is important to know what type of spring is installed in your door. Here are all types of garage door springs:

1.      Torsion Springs

This is the most common type of garage door springs. The number of torsion springs on a garage door ranges from one to four. As the name suggests, these springs use torque to life the garage door every time you want to raise it. These come in the form of tightly wounded metal coils. When the garage door raises or lowers, the springs move in a circular motion to produce the required torque.

Torsion springs are present on the metal shaft right above the door opening. However, there are a few sub-types of torsion springs such as:

• Standard torsion springs. These are usually found on lightweight, residential garage doors.
• Early-set torsion springs. These are just like standard springs however come mounted in the center of the metal shaft.
• Steel rolling torsion springs. Commercial and industrial garage doors generally use these kinds of springs.
• Torque master torsion springs. These torsion springs are accompanied by a winding cone attached to both ends of torsion rods.

2.      Extension Springs

While torsion springs are broad and bold, extension springs are skinny and long. They follow the working principle of expansion and contraction. Most commonly, there are two extension springs fixed to the garage door tracks. The following are the sub-types of extension springs:

• Open-looped extension springs. Generally, these are the weakest springs attached to an open wire. If the wire breaks, the springs require replacement.
• Double-looped extension springs. These are stronger and use a pulley and an eyebolt to operate.
• Clipped-end extension springs. These are the strongest and long-lasting extension springs usually used on heavy garage doors.

3.      Torque Tube Springs

These are the most elite type, however, are quite similar to torsion springs. The major difference is that torque tube springs come enclosed in a tube present at the garage door’s top. These are easier and safer to replace.

How to Check if Garage Door Springs are Broken or At-Fault?

A simple visual check helps find out if your garage door springs are broken or at-fault. Here are a few signs of how to find out the problem:

Does the Door Open Properly?

If your garage door does not open, it simply indicates a problem with one of its significant parts. Most commonly, the homeowner thinks there is some issue with remote. If not, the attention goes to the garage door springs.

Does the Door Show Any Signs of Wear?

A close inspection lets you know if there are some signs of wear or damage. Even if your springs are in perfectly good condition, the strain on the other parts such as pulleys, cables, etc. can affect garage door springs badly.

To look into the signs of wear on the springs themselves, here’s what to do:

• Check if the springs are rusted or dirty.
• Check if there have appeared some gaps between the coils of the springs.
• Check if the springs have lost tension or energy. Elongation or stretched out springs represent a loss of tension.

Does the Door Open Manually?

If the automatic door opener system is at-fault, every garage door should open manually. Disable the automatic system and lift your garage door. If it opens easily with less resistance, springs are in good working condition.

However, if it takes a lot of manpower, there are chances of a fault with springs.

Does the Safety Reversing Mechanism Work?

Your garage door comes with the safety reversing mechanism. When you close the door using the wall button or opener’s transmitter, the door automatically closes. Place your hands at the bottom of the door and test the force setting. If the door reverses, very well. If it continues closing, make sure you remove your hands quickly.

This shows that there is likely a problem with the safety reversing mechanism or garage door springs. Professional testing can help find out the actual cause.

How to Prevent the Damage to Garage Door Springs?

The average lifespan of garage door springs is 7 to 12 years. A quality door spring experiences stress after at least 7 years of usage. However, it requires proper maintenance.

You can prevent the damage by lubricating the springs at least every four to six months. You can use a concentrated home cleaner or a spray lubricant to do the job. It ensures a good working condition.

Comparing the Three Types of Garage Door Springs

Now, it is important to know the difference between the three types of springs to install the best one in your garage door.

	Torsion Springs	Extension Springs	Torque Tube Springs
Lifespan	7 to 12 years	3 to 6 years	10 to 12 years
Cost	$40 – $100	$5 – $30	$60 – $120
Safety	Very safe	Less safe	Highly safe
Maintenance Needs	Lesser maintenance	More maintenance	Lesser maintenance

 

Final Words

Whether you have a garage door installed at your residential or commercial property, it is essential to have adequate knowledge about its parts, working mechanism, and maintenance. It helps you fix smaller problems without having to spend a lot of money and wasting your time.

But if you cannot find a potential problem, it is best to hire a professional. Being a specialist, he can identify and fix the problem really quickly.