Types Of Garage Door Springs

Share This Post

Getting To Know Your Garage Door: Types Of Springs

What type of garage door springs do I need?

Most homeowners open and close their garage doors at least twice a day, but never consider the mechanics that make it work. The function of your garage door is fairly simple. When you push the button on your garage door opener, its actually the springs that support the heavy lifting of opening or closing of the door.

Can Any Spring Be Used On Any Garage Door

No. Springs come in different sizes and strengths to accommodate different sizes and weights of garage doors. Trying to lift a heavy door with short, light gauge springs isnt going to work for long. Your garage door installation and repair specialists at B& W will be able to fix you up with exactly the right spring to match your door, regardless of make, model and age.

Same Day Replacement Of Garage Door Springs In Richmond Hill

If its time for broken spring repair, call our company for same day service. Not only will we send a pro the same day you call, but also as fast as possible. The quick response is vital when it comes to such emergency problems. With our team around, you have no concerns. We send Richmond Hill garage door repair techs and do so quickly. Whats more, the techs come out fully prepared for the service. They carry the required tools and also the correct size and type of garage door spring replacement to ensure the service is done accurately and on the spot.

Read Also: Diy Sliding Garage Door Screens

Advantages Of Oil Tempered Springs

  • Strength and durability – The process of oil tempering results in a spring that is incredibly strong and durable. The oil tempered torsion spring will typically have a lifespan in the neighborhood of 10,000 up/down cycles which is usually good for 7 to 10 years.
  • Little or no adjustment required – If you maintain the oil tempered torsion spring properly theyll almost never need to be adjusted. They are typically able to maintain their energy storage capabilities slightly longer than zinc galvanized springs.
  • Affordability – Perhaps the number 1 reason why oil tempered garage springs are the preferred choice of some garage door manufacturers is their affordability. This allows the manufacturer to keep the price of their garage door systems low and also means that the spring can be easily replaced if need be without breaking the homeowners bank.

How To Hire A Professional

Order Garage Door Springs Online

We recommend you speak to and receive quotes from at least three companies. Here are some questions to ask when choosing a professional garage door company.

  • How long has the company been in business in your area?
  • If your state requires garage door installers to be licensed, do they have a current license? Are they bonded and insured?
  • Do they offer a warranty on parts and/or labor?
  • What do former customers say in online reviews?
  • Is the company rated and accredited by the Better Business Bureau ?
  • Are their quotes itemized? Do they include a time frame for the project?

Don’t Miss: Modern Faux Wood Garage Doors

How To Choose The Right Garage Door Style

Aside from the practicality of figuring out what kind of garage door you need, take some time while garage door shopping to think about what you want in terms of style. From traditional designs to more modern styles, theres something to suit every taste.

But with so many choices available, how do you know which one is right for your home? Here are a few things to keep in mind as you narrow down your choices before buying a garage door.

Tighten Up All Components

In most cases, the noise from your garage door can be caused by loose screws, nuts, and bolts. The constant movement and vibrations of the door over a long period of operation can loosen some components. When this happens the moving components of the garage door wobble anytime the door is operated, hence creating a rattling noise.

The easiest way to solve this problem is to tighten up the loose-fitting components of the door. Before you do this you need to check out for loose screws, nuts, and bolts. Use a deep socket and a ratchet to tighten up all the loose nuts. Also, snug the door and track it in the hardware of your garage door. Always ensure not to over-tighten the components as that can strip the lag screw holes.

Also Check: Raynor Remote Garage Door Opener

How To Measure Extension Springs

For extension springs, youll need to know both the length of the spring, as well as the weight that its intended to hold. If you put a 90-pound spring on a 110-pound door, for example, itll end up looking like a stretched out telephone cord.

Generally, most residential garage doors are either seven or eight feet tall. Seven-foot doors usually use a 25-inch spring, and eight-foot doors use a 27-inch spring. However, because precision is important, well show you how to measure it by hand.

First, make sure your garage door is closed. Unplug your garage door motor unit from the power source, and release the garage door itself by pulling on the brightly-colored release cord hanging down towards the front of the door.

Then, lift your garage door manually you might need another hand or two for this. If only one spring is broken, lift from the broken spring side, otherwise lift from the middle.

Once the door is open, clamp a vice grip inside the track beneath the wheel, just under the bottom of the garage door. This will keep your garage door from closing.

Then, hop up on a ladder and measure the length of the spring with a tape measure. You can also weigh your garage door with a regular mechanical bathroom scale.

How Do Garage Door Springs Work

Replace a Broken Garage Door Spring

As garage doors close, it pulls on cables that are connected to tightly wound garage door springs. These springs are coiled so tightly that they create a buildup of tension and energy.

As the door opens, the tension and energy stored in the garage door springs are released creating force and acting as a counterbalance to the heavy garage door resulting in the door being raised.

Also Check: Weather Strip For Bottom Of Garage Door

/7 Professional Garage Door Help In Richmond Hill

Richmond Hill Garage Doors is a premier company dedicated to providing high quality garage door repair, sales, installation and maintenance services. We are a 24/7 business, serving residential and commercial client with our effective services and products. All our technicians are fully licensed, insured and certified to install/fix any make and model of garage door.Our years of experience, innovative solutions and dedication all combine to bring the best possible solution for you. No job is too big or too small for our professionals. We dont like to brag about ourselves, so we would suggest you to call us once and feel the difference.

Options For Broken Winders

Before ordering new springs you need to check your winders. If you have two springs on your door, youll need to unwind the second spring. Next, remove the winder cones from the winders. Steps 27-37 on our EZ-Set Torsion Spring Replacement tutorial show how to do this.

Check the black plastic tabs in the winders. If the tabs are still intact, you can reuse your winder or winders.

However, if the cone came out of the winder when the spring broke, or if any of the black plastic tabs are broken, you have three options.

One option is to buy a new winder these cost about $25 each.

Another option is to secure the winder cone to the winder unit with JB Weld from your local auto parts store.

A third option is to drill through the winder and winder cone with a 3/16″ drill bit and secure the cone with 1/4″ X 1″ screws. You will not be able to use the winder to wind the spring, but you can use winding bars at the other end to wind the spring. Instructions for winding torsion springs are in section 10 of our Torsion Spring Replacement tutorial.

You May Like: Garage Door Strut Home Depot

How To Quiet A Garage Door

Replace Steel Rollers with Nylon Roller

The door rollers are the simplest and yet the most critical component of the garage door. The function of the roller is to roll along the rails of the door to help keep it on track whenever the door is opened or closed. The rollers can be found both in automatic and manual garage doors.

Most garage doors are normally manufactured with steel rollers. The steel rollers can contribute to the noise in your garage door as they roll on the tracks for a long period. This is because many steel rollers have unsealed bearings that cause them to self-destruct after several years of rolling in a dirty environment. Oovertimehe steel rollers begin to wear out and tremble as you operate the door, hence creating the noise.

If you realize your steel rollers are worn out then its time to replace them with a nylon roller. The nylon rollers are sealed bearings and are quieter because they are plastic. The nylon roller moves smoothly and doesnt wear out quickly.

How Much Does It Cost To Repair Or Replace A Garage

How to Replace a Garage Door Spring

Most homeowners don’t give their garage-door springs a second thought until something goes wrong. Your garage-door springs do a lot of heavy lifting every time you open or shut the door, so it’s hardly surprising that they’re one of the most common causes of garage door problems. A broken or worn-out spring often makes opening the garage door impossible, so you’ll want to replace it promptly.

Replacing a garage doors spring is relatively inexpensive, and it’s usually worth paying a professional to do it for you.

Also Check: 4 Wire Garage Door Opener

Upgrading Your Insulation Is Always Smart

Upgrading your insulation is always smart, but its an even better idea when youre shopping for a new garage door.

Thats because insulation keeps your garage door warm in the winter and cool in the summer, making it much more comfortable to use. And, of course, it also helps to reduce your energy bills.

There are two main types of garage door insulation: polystyrene and polyurethane. Polystyrene is the cheaper option, but its not as durable as polyurethane. Polyurethane insulation is also a bit more difficult to install, so youll need to factor that into your decision.

Ultimately, the best garage door insulation for you will depend on your budget and your climate. If you live in a relatively mild climate, polystyrene will probably be fine. But if you live in an area with extreme temperatures, youll want to upgrade to polyurethane.

Different Types Of Torsion Spring Assemblies And Wire Diameters

Theres a whole world of garage door options on the market, which means generic, off-the-shelf springs wont do. Different garage door manufacturers have unique needs, which is why we offer a range of torsion spring assemblies. In our selection, youll find oil-tempered, black-coated and wire and extension springs. Dont settle for anything less than a garage door spring manufacturer that can gain an understanding of your needs, and then deliver the custom components your work demands.

These different types of materials ensure you always have access to the specific assemblies your job requires. The wire diameters available range from .148 inches to .625 inches, and IDs range from .05 inches to 10.5 inches. Youll also find square wire that ranges from .312 to .437 in diameter. When you find a garage door spring manufacturer in the U.S. that can provide this wide range of materials, you enjoy the freedom to create and adapt products to align with best practices and the latest industry innovations.

You May Like: Saferacks Overhead Garage Storage Installation

What Are The Different Garage Door Springs Types

In general, there are various types of garage door springs and multiple spring types and sub-types. However, the two most common are torsion and extension springs. Knowing how to identify if a garage door spring is broken relies heavily on understanding the mechanics of the garage door spring type used.

Quick Comparison Of Torsion And Extension Springs

How to replace garage door extension springs
Parameter
  • Protective Eye-wear

Step 1: Remove the safety cable from the existing torsion springs and uninstall the main drum bar and the center bearing plates that hold onto your torsion springs.

Step 2: Slide the torsion plates out of your roller track and replace them with the extension pulleys. Measure the length of your spring and check if it fits properly in the roller tracks.

Step 3: Lift your garage door and mount the extension springs onto the roller tracks. Now, take a screwdriver and hoist all the safety cables back in place.

Step 4: Finally, check the garage doors balance and complete your garage door spring replacement.

Don’t Miss: Cost To Repair Garage Door Springs

Cost Effective Garage Door Spring Repair & Replacement In Vaughan

A spring is such a powerful and important aspect of a garage door working that its failure can lead to the failure of the garage door itself. No matter whether you have a torsion or an extension spring, when they are broken, they will break the working system of your garage door too. If you have got one, you need not worry at all as Omega Garage Doors Vaughan is there to help you.

Our team has seen so many cases where a faulty spring was the reason for a poor or zero movement of the garage door. We understand this scenario completely and know effective ways to get your door back on the track through quick spring repair and replacement.

How Do I Know What Garage Door Spring To Buy

The springs are undeniably the unsung heroes of your garage door. In essence, they do all the heavy lifting while the garage door opener functions as a regulator and subsequently facilitating smooth and pleasant downward or upward motion. While these components are remarkably durable and rugged, even the toughest of them will wear out and require replacement after continual usage over the years.

If you want to replace your garage door springs, you must understand the basics that go into getting the right spring. So, how do you know what garage door spring to purchase? In this excerpt, you will discover how to assess and determine the right spring for your garage door. Lets get started.

Recommended Reading: Used Metal Garages For Sale

Prioritize Quiet Over Aesthetic

Most people overlook the noise aspect of a garage door but it can be quite loud, especially if you have living space above the garage. When possible, always prioritize quiet over the aesthetic appeal of the garage doors youre interested in installing.

In this aspect, were talking about the actual garage door opener used to open the door. Nothings worse than a loud, creaky garage door opener each time someone leaves or arrives back home.

However, this can sometimes be caused by the garage doors themselves, too. Certain garage doors open in ways that are inherently noisier than offers. If noise is a concern, make sure to bring this up to your specialist when shopping for a new garage door.

Introduction To Sectional Garage Door Extension Springs

Deadly garage door springs

Sectional garage doors are hinged, and they bend in the tracks as the door opens and closes. Many of these doors are counterbalanced with extension springs, also designated “stretch springs,” and they have seven characteristics. The length is the measurement of all the coils pressed together. This, along with the inside diameter of the coils and wire size – the thickness of the wire from which the springs are made – determine the stretch, the distance the spring is extended – normally half the door height, and pull, the force the spring pulls when stretched its normal length. The type of ends determine how the ends of the spring are mounted. The initial tension is the percentage of pull needed to separate the coils. This is determined by the pitch with which the springs are wound. On sectional garage door springs, this normally is 15 percent. For example, a 100-pound pull spring requires 15 pounds of weight to separate the coils when a door is open, the two springs will support 15 pounds of door weight without any stretch.

Most extension springs are made of oil tempered wire. These are normally coated or painted. Some springs are made of galvanized wire.

Read Also: 1 2 Hp Garage Door Opener

A Commitment To Quality

What sets IDC Spring apart from the competition? We are focused completely on quality. We guarantee we can make your springs to meet your exact and unique specifications, and we guarantee well get them right the first time. We focus on speed and simplicity in delivering exactly what you need in the way of garage door springs exactly when you need them.

We know youre serving your own customers, which is why we consider ourselves partners in your work. Were only successful when you are with your own customers.

How To Determine The Color Code Of Your Spring:

Garage door springs are color-coded. The color code is a system that helps in the correct identification of the spring for replacement and repair purposes. Ideally, it does not have any impact on how the garage door functions and is simply a technical identification system.

It is purposed to help the professionals servicing your garage door to determine the weight and size of the spring. With extension springs, in particular, the color-coding system is designed to assist the professionals servicing your garage door effectively determine the overall lifting power the springs offer. This is vital since doors have varying weights, and for them to function correctly, they need to have the appropriate and necessary lifting power.

Recommended Reading: Garage Door With Glass Panels

Related Posts