Wondering which garage door springs are best? Below you’ll find all the different types of garage door springs explained and which is the right type for your scenario.
Lets get started.
What are the different types of garage door springs?
Torsion and extension springs are the two main springs used to operate most garages. Different garage doors will use a different garage door spring, so check below to figure out which one your garage has.
Torsion Springs
Torsion springs are normally right above the garage door. The torsion spring utilizes a twisting force (or otherwise known as “torque”) which transmits to the shaft all the way to the cable drums creating tension on the cables.
The shaft, cable drum, and torsion spring work together to create counterbalance. The torsion spring is what allows you to lift the garage door without any effort.
Different sized garages utilize different sized torsion springs. If you don’t know what type of torsion spring your garage needs, you may need to weigh your garage door to determine what spring to use.
It’s important that you use the right sized garage door springs, or you may risk injury, so please be careful when buying new ones.
Extension Springs
The extension spring is the one that runs horizontally along the track of your garage door. It also creates a counterbalance system that uses pulleys and cables to lift your garage door.
When you raise the garage door, the extension springs contract lifting the garage door. The more you open the door, the more force is put on them as well.
Safety cables are also utilized if the extension springs snap. If it were to snap under tension, the safety cable will prevent the extension spring from releasing the tension in your direction, prevent injury.
Just like torsion springs, extension springs also take into account the model of your garage door and the weight. If you don’t know what springs your garage door needs to operate, it’s a good idea to call a garage door technician instead of risking your life.
Which is better, torsion or extension springs?
Torsion springs cost more, but they also last longer than extension springs. They last between 15,000 to 20,000 cycles and extension springs are only quoted to last around 10,000 cycles.
Torsion springs also allow for better control of your garage door. You’ll find that extension springs may cause a jerky movement when opening or closing the garage door which can cause an unaligned garage door spring.
Extension springs can also be more dangerous if they break. Even though they have safety cables, there is still a chance that they fly off and injure someone. Torsion springs don’t generally “fly off”, they snap in place.
Torsion springs also require fewer parts which means that there is less room for error.
Verdict
I think that while torsion springs have their disadvantages, it doesn’t mean that extension springs don’t have value. They’ve been holding garage doors up for decades without an issue, the torsion spring will last over the long run though.
Garage doors can also be dangerous as well as garage door springs, so be careful and take all the necessary precautions when servicing garage door torsion springs. If your garage door spring breaks, then it can snap and send metal flying at high speeds. If you aren’t comfortable working with a garage door opener and its springs, then it’s best to call a technician for your garage door repairs.
