When your garage door operates correctly, opening and closing at it should, many don’t think about the important parts that make that happen beyond the door and the opener. Yet there is a very important part of the garage door system that make the operation of the garage door go smoothly. We are talking about garage door springs. You may have heard of them and probably have seen them, but probably haven’t thought of just the importance of garage door springs.
Garage door springs work by offsetting the force of gravity and weight of the garage door. In other words, garage doors can be heavy, and garage door springs work to make the door light enough for either you by hand or the garage door opener to operate the garage door up and down easily. When one of your springs break or does not work correctly, the weight of the garage door can pull on other parts such as the opener or tracks causing damage. Moreover, your garage door may be to heavy to open even manually, leaving your garage door stuck.
Types of Garage Door Springs.
There are two different types of garage door springs, torsion springs and extension springs. The way you can tell the difference is torsion will wind or unwind to lift the door, and the extension will expand and contract. You will never have a combination of the two, though.
How a Torsion Spring Works.
Torsion Springs are attached above the garage opening, torsion springs slowly twist and coil on the shaft whenever force is applied. The majority of garage doors that are over 8ft have torsion springs. There are also becoming more common on 8ft garage doors as well. Torsion Springs come in different sizes and measurements. These measurements are calculated specifically depending on your garage door weight, height, and more. Our sister company, Parts 4 Garage Doors, has a great video on how to measure the size of your garage door springs.
How a Garage Door Extension Spring Works.
Extension springs attached to the sides of your garage door above the upper horizontal tracks. They used to be the more common garage door springs so most older homes will extension springs on single garage doors.
Garage Door Spring Maintenance.
Lubricate the Garage Door Springs.
You want to lubricate your garage door springs twice a year, usually at the beginning of spring and fall. The reason is that metal expands and contracts with the change of the seasons. For example, When the air gets colder, metal contracts and can cause your garage door spring to break. As always, before lubricating any part, make sure you clear it of dust and debris. Never use WD40 for lubrication. Either use a lithium-based grease or garage door spray lubrication.
Test the Balance of Your Garage Door
If your garage door is not perfectly balanced, the garage door opener will have to work harder, and it won’t last as long. After you disconnect the opener by pulling the release handle (usually a red cord), manually move the door about halfway up. If it doesn’t stay put, the counterweight system (springs) are improperly balanced.
If your garage door spring is broken or your garage door is improperly balanced, unless you have the time and comfortability in doing the repairs yourself, it’s best to leave the repairs to a garage door professional. Spectrum Overhead Door LLC has been fixing Houston’s garage door springs with award-winning service since 2006. Call 281-748-9542 or our East Houston office 713-557-3407 to schedule your appointment today!