Garage door springs are critical for moving the garage door. The springs typically help the door rise properly and lower slowly and steadily so that the garage door does not come crashing down. However, they can break and cause the garage door to become unsafe. If that happens, you’ll need to contact us right away to set up a time for garage door repair. Only a knowledgeable and reputable garage door company can properly assess your garage door and make repairs as needed so that the garage door’s problems do not become any worse.

Types of Garage Door Springs

Garage doors are equipped with one of two kinds of springs: torsion and extension. It’s important to know what kind of springs you have so that you know what kind you may need to get as a replacement. The type of garage door spring that you get as a replacement for your original component ensures that your garage door continues to work properly and safely.

Torsion Springs

The torsion springs on a garage door are located over the opening of the garage door. Torsion springs are a popular type of spring to use on a garage door where there is not tons of headroom overhead. If a garage door does not have much headroom, it is more difficult to apply rear torsion springs, which are another option for some kinds of garage doors. Torsion springs work using torque. They are heavy-duty and tend to last longer than other kinds of springs. Torsion springs operate by using a twisting motion to cause rotation. When either your hand or a motor applies force to the garage door to open or close it, the coil will twist and coil up the shaft. Torsion springs come in several sizes and lengths to ensure you get the right fit for your garage door.

Extension Springs

In garage doors with extension springs, the door opens when the springs extend and create a counterbalance. As the door opens wider, the springs are extended further, which places more force on the extension springs. Since there is a considerable amount of force placed on the springs, they must also have safety measures in place. There are generally two safety cables on a garage door with extension springs, as each spring has its own safety cable. If the extension spring malfunctions, the corresponding safety spring can prevent the spring from shooting up into the air, which can cause serious harm and damage to the people and objects in its path. The safety cables should remain in place all the time to prevent any injury or liability to the homeowners, regardless of whether the door is open, closed, or in motion.

Which Type of Spring is Best?

Now that you know about the different kinds of garage door springs, you may be wondering if one kind is better than the other. Ultimately, either kind can be a good choice. You will want to think about several factors to decide on the right spring, such as what kind of garage door you have, how often you want to replace the spring, and how much you want to spend on new garage door springs if you need to replace them. Extension springs are typically less expensive than torsion springs, and they are frequently used in residential settings. Extension springs are often used in new homes as well. However, they have a shorter lifespan than torsion springs, which is a factor to consider when you are selecting the right kind of spring for your garage door.

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Contact a trusted garage door company today for your garage door repair needs.