Determine The Wire Size
This is one of the most important things to consider when choosing the right torsion spring for a garage door. This helps you know the exact size of the spring to get. Measure the entire length of the spring. It should be at least 10 to 20 coils. The measurements should be in inches.
Once you have the measurement, use wire size charts to determine the correct spring to buy. Avoid tampering with the springs above the door when making measurements.
About Garage Door Springs
In essence, there are two types of garage door springs, mainly extension springs and torsion springs. Each of them operates distinctly, and it is, therefore, necessary that you understand their mechanisms of operation. This is so that you can adequately determine whether or not a garage door spring needs replacement or not and how to identify the specific spring you need to buy.
- Torsion springs:these are stiff springs usually mounted to the metal rod that runs parallel to the garage door, just directly above its opening. Torsion springs basically sit against the wall over the door. They store energy through tightly coiling as the garage door opens and closes. When you close the door, these springs save enough energy and when you want to open the garage door, the springs facilitate it by uncoiling and subsequently releasing the energy.
- Extension Springs:these are light-weight, long springs that run perpendicular to the garage door. They are usually mounted above the door tracks horizontal portions. Extension springs are located between these tracks and your garage ceiling. Often, these springs store enough energy through extending as the door closes and subsequently releasing it as the door opens.
What Are Spring Color Codes Based On
Torsion springs are color-coded based on wire gauge sizes.
Extension springs are color-coded based on the weight of the door they will counterbalance.
The color code charts below are supplemental aids. It is important to know how to identify springs without color codes as many existing springs often have worn out paint. Verify that you are choosing the correct color by verifying the physical spring measurements.
Below are color codes and charts based on DASMAs technical sheets, to look at the DASMAs original PDFs use this link:
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How To Measure Extension Springs
It should be noted that measuring garage door springs can be a very dangerous and difficult task and should be performed by professionals. Attempting to weigh or repair a garage door should never be done alone unless by an experienced professional.
Identifying the size of the extension spring needed is a much simpler task than its counterpart. All you need to identify what type/size of extension spring is needed is the length of the spring and the weight of the garage door it will be lifting.
Similar to torsion springs, extension springs must not be expanded during measurement. To measure the extension spring close your garage door and use a measuring tape to measure the extension spring end to end.
If you have a traditional garage door, it is likely a 7-foot door and will require a 25-inch spring.
The next step in identifying the size of extension spring needed is to measure the weight of your garage door. To do so you must first disconnect the power to the garage door opener. Secondly, disconnect the operators arm from the garage door.
Next, disengage the pin from the operator. From here both extension springs will need to be uninstalled. Once the garage door is safely lowered to the ground, slide a scale under the middle of the garage door and take multiple readings to identify the proper weight.
How To Determine The Wind Direction Of A Garage Torsion Spring:
Just before you set out to buy a garage door spring, you need to know the exact direction in which the spring is wound. This way, you will effectively decide on whether you should replace a right-wound spring or left-wound spring, or even both.
Typically, in comparison to all the necessary details, you must compile before buying your garage door spring, this step is by far the easiest. Essentially, the order of your garage door springs from right to left will tell you all that you should know. If you check the inside of your garage door, you will probably see two distinct springs along the opposite sides of the bar, which hangs above the door.
Usually, these two springs are separated by an exclusive stationary cone. While this might initially seem confusing, the doors left-wound spring is situated to the cones right while the subsequent right-wound one is located on the left side. This rule is only inapplicable if your garage door utilizes a reverse spring system.
So, how do you tell if a garage door spring is a left or a right spring on your garage door: check where the end of the spring is pointing and identify the wind direction. If its endpoints in a clockwise direction, then it is a left-wound spring and vice versa.
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Garage Door Spring Color Code
Think about the springs in your garage. Do the springs on your garage door system have some color painted on them? They should. The garage door industrys leading organization, DASMA, developed a Garage Door Spring Color Code to make it easy to find the right replacement springs.
Springs are an important part of your garage door system and every time the door is opened or closed the springs are in action. General wear eventually breaks down the springs making them nonfunctional. As springs break down it the garage door becomes more difficult to lift and lower, it also makes operating the door more dangerous.
If its time to replace the springs on your garage door take a look at the table at the end of this post for help choosing the right spring for your door.
Consider Sti Garage Door Your Trusted Partner
Do you need to replace your garage door springs? Then STI Garage Door is the company to call. We can help you with choosing a garage door torsion spring. Because we work with all types of doors, we can help you choose a garage door extension spring as well. Our experts can help you buy the right torsion and extension springs. Our services include maintenance, repair, and replacements.
Because we have been around for years, you can expect only the best work from us. Regular maintenance allows our experts to identify that springs are damaged early on. Prevent harmful situations by letting our experts do the work for you. Whether you have a commercial or residential garage door, no task is impossible for us. Our main goal is to ensure that all our customers are satisfied with the services that we provide.
now to find out how to buy and reply torsion and extension springs. Enjoy great services at a cost-effective price!
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Understanding The Garage Door Spring Color Code And Ensuring You Pick The Right Size
- Details
- Written by Big Mike Parks
If you own a garage door youre probably aware that springs are an important part of the door mechanism. Even doors that are opened and closed manually use springs. Since garage doors typically weigh hundreds of pounds opening them without the aid of springs would be a practical impossibility for most people and would also be beyond the capabilities of the automatic garage door opener. So, how do they do it? By charging while the door is closing and then releasing the energy theyve stored to lift the door when you want to open it.
Garage Door Extension Spring Dasma Color Code Chart
With extension springs, the color refers exclusively to the amount of door weight. Two extension springs are capable of lifting the amount of weight indicated by the color. There is a range of 10 colors, so the colors repeat for springs designed for lightweight doors or extra-heavy doors. The color chart works as follows:
| Color |
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How Long Should My Garage Door Springs Last
Standard garage door springs have a life expectancy between 7-10 years or about 10,000 cycles, this of course is based on how often the garage door is used and how well the garage door springs are maintained.
Over time, regardless of routine maintenance, wear and tear will occur and repairs and replacements will be needed. Understanding the signs that your garage door
needs attention is essential.
Catching an issue early could be the difference between a small inexpensive repair or a full garage door replacement.
A few signs that point to your garage door springs needing attention include:
- Opening and closing unevenly
- Garage door wont open all the way
- Garage door closing too quickly
- Loud noise or squeaking when opening and closing
- Garage door opener straining to open door
Worn and damaged garage door springs can break suddenly causing an extreme threat to the people and objects around it. It is important to contact your Fort Worth Garage Door specialists at the first sign of failure.
How To Choose Garage Door Springs
For both extension and torsion springs, it is important to note that the spring weight must match the weight of the garage door. Ensuring your garage door springs can support the weight of your garage door will ensure that the door stays balanced, and you will maximize the lifespan of your springs if maintained properly.
The type of garage door spring needed for a replacement is typically very simple to determine. If your current garage door springs are above the opening of the garage door, you require a torsion spring system.
If your springs are set on each side of the garage door opening, you need extension springs. Now that we know what type of springs are needed lets dive deeper into other factors that determine the specific spring needed.
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How Much Does A Garage Door Spring Cost
Now that you know a strategy for selecting garage door torsion springs lets discuss costs. When a spring is damaged, it should be replaced immediately. A single spring usually costs about $120-300. Some manufacturers have springs that cost less than 20$. The disadvantage of buying cheaper ones is that they do not last long. So, in the long run, you will end up spending more money.
The overall cost will depend on where you buy the springs from and how many are damaged. Another thing to consider is the labor. Different companies have varying prices for spring replacement services. Regardless, it shouldnt cost more than $500 to replace your old springs with new ones.
For example, high-quality torsion springs should have no less than 10,000 cycles. This means they should last at least 7 years before getting damaged. Extension springs need to have about 10,000 to 12,000 cycles. Depending on how frequently the garage door is used, it can last for up to 10 years.
Which Garage Door Springs Are Best
Coated torsion springs are best. Torsion springs are safer than extension springs and often last twice as long. Coating a torsion spring makes it last even longer than a regular torsion spring.
Why are torsion springs safer? Torsion springs are self-contained. When they break, they will not turn into projectiles. Extension springs, however, can fire off. Building code requires that safety cables be installed. That way, when an extension spring breaks, it will not shoot out. Unfortunately, many companies and individuals do not follow these rules. As a result, extension springs have destroyed garages and even killed people.
Why choose coated torsion springs? Springs with coating do not break as quickly. The best coated torsion springs are shot-peened. Shot peening consists in firing ball bearings at the springs. After going through this process, these springs will last almost forever. For this reason, some garage door companies offer a lifetime guarantee on them.
That being said, the best garage door springs are the ones that fit your budget and last as long as you would like them to.
In need of garage door spring repair? Contact your local Precision Door Service company. A professionally trained garage door technician will come to your house, assess your problem, and review your options with you. We always arrive in fully stocked trucks with torsion and extension springs of different sizes and coatings. No need for a return visit!
Precision Door: We Fix Garage Doors RightTM
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What Kind Of Garage Door Spring Do You Have
The first step in figuring out what the spring color coding means is to know the type of garage door spring. The majority of garage doors use torsion springs, a wound spring that when twisted will exert torque to help lift the garage door. These springs are generally installed above a garage door. Used less often, extension springs create energy through a pulling force. Extension springs are generally installed on the sides of garage doors.
How Long Do Garage Door Extension Springs Last
How long extension springs last will depend on how often the garage door is used. On average, garage door extension springs can last between seven to nine years. With excessive use, the lifespan could drop to four to six years.
Worn extension springs have gaps between the coils when the spring should be retracted. If you have to replace your garage door extension springs or ones for customers, IDC Spring is here to help.
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Spotting And Removing A Bad Garage Door Extension Spring
Spotting a bad garage door extension spring is easy.
If the coils are distended and irregular when the spring is extended then it needs to be replaced.
You can see this when your garage door is in the closed position.
Extension springs are attached to a pulley and I-bolt.
The I-bolt is attached to a vertical bracket.
There should also be a steel safety cable that runs through the extension spring and is tied to the vertical bracket.
Youre going to need to remove the safety cable and the pulley in order to replace the old spring.
Using your wrenches, loosen the bolt that holds the pulley in place.
Im a clumsy DIYer. There, I admitted it. Im always making mistakes.
As such, I like having little tips that help me with the project.
Heres one that might help you.
Tape the pulley wheel to the steel cable.
It might sound weird but the pulley wheel has a special relationship with the cable that it pulls.
Taping it to the cable will allow you to easily attach the pulley to the new extension spring.
I also highly recommend taking a picture of the safety cable and how its tied to the vertical bracket.
That way youll know how to reattach the cable after you remove it.
Untie the safety cable from the bracket and pull it through the old extension spring.
Now you can remove the pulley clip from the end of the old spring and take the old extension spring down off the I-bolt.
Measure The Inside Diameter
For most garage doors, the inside diameter will be indicated between the springs above the door. The inside diameter is measured to the nearest inch. However, if you do not have that, then you can measure yourself. To do this, you should remove the spring. This can be a hazardous task, so it is best to leave it to a professional. Measuring the inside diameter is important so that you buy a spring that will fit tightly and produce just the right amount of torque.
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How To Measure The Overall Length And Inside
One vital component you need to know before going to shop for a garage door spring is the diameter of that spring that needs replacement. Usually, this is an easy process since most garage doors have this measurement engraved on them.When you look at the stationary or winding cone, you may spot a number such as 2.0 or 1.75. If you see the former, this means that the spring has a 2-inch diameter.
Nonetheless, if you see no such figure, you will have to do the measurement yourself. With that spring positioned on a flat place, run a measuring tape or ruler along the springs inside diameter. That measurement is the springs diameter.
The other important measurement of your garage spring is its overall length. Usually, the length of the spring is vital to its overall winding capacity. For instance, if your garage door is large, getting a small garage door spring will obviously not provide the necessary lowering and lifting power.
The Last Spring You’ll Ever Need
Just like car tires are rated by miles, garage door springs are rated by cycles . The springs commonly used by our competition range anywhere from 5,000-15,000 cycles, whereas we use a high-grade steel spring rated for 25,000-50,000+ cycles! Call Precision to get your garage door working perfectly today!
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Do I Have Garage Door Torsion Springs
If your garage door spring is directly above your garage door, you have torsion springs.
The word “torsion” comes from the Latin “to turn.” To close your garage door, torsion springs twist. They use torque. They will hold this position until you open your garage door.
Torsion springs have a metal piece on each end.
These metal ends form X’s and are called cones. One end has a small indentation. A garage door repairman will stick a winding bar in this hole and crank it. For this reason, this cone is called a winding bar cone. The cone on your garage door spring’s other end connects to a plate of metal, called the center bearing. A garage door repairman does not move this end with a winding bar. For this reason, it is known as the stationary cone.
Torsion springs run along a metal shaft, called a torsion tube.
These tubes can be hollow or solid. They connect to cable drums at each corner of your garage.
Do you see all these elements? Then you definitely have a torsion spring system.