Garage doors have various components that allow them to work correctly. On the list of crucial garage door parts are the springs. Garage doors have two different types of springs called torsion and extension springs. While both kinds of springs help garage doors open and close properly, they have different functions and even prices. If you need to troubleshoot problems with your garage door, contact the professionals for prompt garage door repair.

How do You Know if the Garage Springs are Broken?

Broken garage door springs are a common reason people contact us for garage door repair. You can look for several signs that indicate that the springs on your garage door are not functioning properly. No matter what the cause is for the springs to break, get them repaired quickly, since broken garage door springs can quickly turn into a hazard. If the garage door does not open at all, broken springs may be to blame. The garage door may open partially when you press the garage door opener or hit a button to open the door manually. However, if the door only opens a few inches and then abruptly stops, a broken cable may be the culprit. You can sometimes see if the cable is broken by visually inspecting the garage door to look for cables hanging loose. One or both springs may be broken, so you will want to check both sides of the garage door to look for problems. If the garage door is open when the springs break, you may find that the door is difficult to close. You might also notice that the garage door appears to be imbalanced. Even if it does not stop moving altogether, the garage door may also move more slowly than it usually does.

Extension Springs 

 Extension springs are located along the garage door’s sides. They are usually located on the garage door’s horizontal tracks. Extension springs will stretch out and then contract when you open or close the garage door if they are working properly. Most residential garage doors that are lighter in weight have just two springs, while commercial garage doors may have more. The springs are attached to the garage door through one of several ways, including a pivot pin, tension adjusting bolt, and garage door pulley. Sectional springs are the most common kind of extension spring. Sectional springs pull on the door’s cables to counterbalance its weight. Your garage door may also have one-piece sectional springs based on its design. These springs are specially designed for garage doors with one central panel or section rather than multiple sections. One-piece sectional springs operate using a track system that pulls the garage door upward from the bottom and lowers it safely again when you hit the button to close the door. One-piece springs are used for heavier residential or commercial garage doors. 

 Torsion Springs 

 The torsion springs are the other kind of garage door spring. They are made up of various components, making them a bit more complex than extension springs. Since there are so many moving parts associated with torsion springs, it may be more complicated to figure out what part of the spring is broken if your garage door is not functioning at its best. It also means you should contact a pro to help out with your garage door spring repair rather than trying to do the work yourself. Torsion springs allow the garage door to smoothly open and close by raising and lowering the door on demand. Torsion springs have a limited lifespan, like extension springs, which means you should probably replace both springs if one breaks due to age, as the other will likely follow shortly after. The average torsion spring has a lifespan of about 25,000 – 50,000 cycles, which is counted as the garage door opening and closing one time.