Most homeowners never think about their garage door spring until they start having problems with their garage door. These small but important components make garage doors easy to open since they store and release energy that’s required to lift even the heaviest of doors.
Here’s a basic guide to garage door springs, including how to determine door spring wind direction:
What are the types of garage door springs?
There are two kinds of garage or overhead door springs that play a part in opening and closing the door. Torsion springs are newer technology, featuring a spring bar and torsion tube mounted above the garage door opening. They provide the force needed to open and close the door, while other components, like the cable and drums, do the lifting. Torsion springs are available in several sizes, so if you need to repair one, make sure you get the right size for your door.
Extension springs, on the other hand, are mounted on both sides of the door. As the garage door closes, the springs stretch. When the garage door opens, they loosen. It can be challenging to balance extension spring systems, particularly when only one spring is being replaced. It’s usually easier and more efficient to invest in a torsion spring system when you’re making a repair.
How do you determine garage door spring wind direction?
Most torsion springs feature a color-coded system at the end of the spring that tells you whether the spring is right-wound or left-wound. In most cases, right-wound springs feature a red cone, while left-wound springs have a black cone.
The benefits of garage door torsion springs
When homeowners need to replace their garage door springs, they typically do so with the same type of springs they had before. It’s simple to convert garage door extension springs to torsion springs. Making the switch provides the following benefits:
- Torsion springs only cost a nominal amount more than extension springs, but they typically last twice as long. You won’t have to replace them as often, saving you time, money and hassle all at once.
- Torsion springs are typically safer to use and install compared to traditional extension springs. They allow for controlled motion, rather than the jerky motion associated with extension springs. This keeps your door in proper balance, preventing the need for adjustments and the potential for damage to the door.
- Torsion springs require far fewer parts than extension springs. Generally, when there are more parts involved, there’s more potential for things to go wrong. Torsion springs experience much less wear and tear, making them a hassle-free option.
- Torsion springs reduce wear on your garage door operator, allowing it to do its job without requiring excess power to function. Your operator won’t work as hard to open and close the door, extending its lifespan.
Need to replace your garage door spring? Don’t do it yourself. Contact Affordable Dock & Door instead. We’ll make sure your garage door is operating smoothly and safely for years to come.