In this blog entry, the expert Chicago garage door opener repair team here at Garage Door Repair Chicago will detail how garage door springs work, and what makes them so essential to the safe and successful operation of modern garage doors of all types.
Torsion Springs
The majority of double car garage doors utilize torsion springs. Torsion springs operate by twisting its end across its axis fully. Torsion springs are bigger than extension springs, and can handle the heaviest weight of garage doors. They are more expensive than extension springs, but often last much longer, around 10,000 to 15,000 cycles.
Extension Springs
More lightweight or small garage doors usually utilize extension springs. Extension springs stretch out as a load is applied to the spring. They are much smaller and cheaper than torsion springs, but also have a shorter life cycle, averaging between 5,000 to 10,000 cycles.
What type of garage door spring is best?
Lighter garage doors that aren’t insulated or are meant to protect just a single car usually use extension springs, as they are lighter, cheaper, and require less uper headroom over the garage door. Heavier garage doors that are wooden, insulated, or glass – meant to protect two cars – usually use torsion spring systems. Torsion springs are much larger and last much longer than extension springs. The form of garage door spring that will best suit your needs will depend on the height, weight, style, and material of your garage door. Most single car garage doors are provided with extension springs, but some people choose to upgrade their tension spring garage system when their unique needs call for it.
Broken Garage Door Springs
If you can’t tell if your garage door springs are broken, test if your garage door is having issues opening or closing. With no tension, your garage door will be incredibly heavy, and possibly impossible to manually lift. If you have an automatic garage door opener, the garage door weight might be too heavy for the garage door opener to lift it, which might damage the opener and the door as well. In this case, you’ll probably have to have your garage door springs professionally replaced.
My garage door springs don’t look like torsion or tension springs – what are they?
Some manufacturers utilize different forms of tension systems. However, the Chicagoland garage door spring replacement and repair team here at Garage Door Spring Chicago can rapidly repair all manner of garage door spring issues, and provide you simple, effective, and easy solutions for all of your Illinois garage door repair needs.
