Due to the fact that garage doors are heavy and weighted, we use garage door spring mechanisms to assist in the opening and closing of the garage door. The central component of the modern garage doors is the inclusion of either an extension spring or a torsion spring. These springs store a large amount of energy. When the door itself opens, that energy is
released to assist in lifting the door.
An example of how it works: Let’s say your garage door weighs approximately 440 pounds; the springs must generate a force equal to 440 pounds to balance the door. This is done through the releasing of the energy of the springs, which stretch or turn specific parts of the door, and therefore balance the door and help the opener to lift it open.
The Types of Garage Door Springs
There are two different types of garage spring doors – the torsion spring and the extension spring. Let have a look at both types and how they work:
Torsion Springs
Torsion springs are located parallel to the garage door on the wall overhead the door. They are more robust than extension springs and can be quite dangerous to work with. In general, they are stronger and quieter. A drawback of torsion springs is that they are more expensive than extension springs.
Extension Springs
Extension springs have remained the standard for many years. When the garage door closes, the extension spring’s job is to absorb the door’s weight and store it as energy. When the garage door opens, the spring releases that energy and lifts the door. Most commonly, a garage door has two extension springs. You can find these above each track and perpendicular to the garage door itself.
When to Replace Your Garage Door Spring
With time, your garage door spring becomes worn out. The lifespan of the spring depends on the amount of use and maintenance of the springs themselves. It is essential to check your springs from time to time and replace them once worn out or when they break, as they
cannot be replaced. If you find that rusting and corrosion have been there for a while and are gradually increasing or your springs are nearing the end of their lifespan, you are going to probably need a garage door spring repair expert.
DIY Vs. Hiring a Professional
A common question is whether you can repair or replace your garage spring yourself. We highly recommend against this. Both types of garage springs contain a large amount of stored energy and can be dangerous. These springs have enough energy to lift hundreds of pounds, and if the spring snaps while working on it or replacing it – this could result in a
disaster and severe injury. In some cases, there have been fatalities when individuals have attempted to DIY their garage spring door repairs. We advise hiring a garage spring door repair specialist such as Naperville Garage Door Repair. These are professionals who can give guided expertise and have been trained to handle the springs in a precise and safe manner. However, if in the end you decide to change the garage door springs yourself, find a good resource that explains the process in depth.
The Final Verdict
To sum up, garage door springs are there to assist in opening and closing heavy and weighted garage doors. They use stored energy to lift the garage door open. If you have an issue and need a garage spring door repair, we recommend hiring a local garage door repair company as the springs can be dangerous when you do not have the expertise, experience, and training to repair them.
