Why do garage doors need springs? Why are they so crucial to the proper functioning of a garage door?
Good questions — the answers to which will become apparent as we go over this topic together.
Your garage door plays a key role in the overall functionality and aesthetic of your home. In other words, it helps keep your home secure, while also making it look beautiful.
Garage door springs help the door raise and lower. Your garage door is likely the heaviest moving part in your home. When the door goes down, the springs increase in tension. That tension gets released when the door opens; the springs actually help lift the door.
Sometimes the springs of your garage door will wear down over time, so it’s important to know a little bit about them.
Here are some key facts about garage door springs.
What kind of garage door springs are there?
The springs help ensure that your garage door opens and closes properly. The door needs to be properly balanced to offset its weight, and this is done with the right type of springs. Torsion springs and extension springs are the most common.
Torsion springs:
These are the most common springs for garage doors. They are installed horizontally above the opening of the door. They look like tightly wound coils.
Extension springs:
These are attached to the corners of the garage door and, as the name suggests, extend when the door is closed. They can be fully extended, though, unlike torsion springs which only turn.
How reliable are garage door springs?
Garage door springs are designed and engineered to be durable, especially when they are installed by a professional team of garage door experts.
Torsion springs are the most reliable. The amount of cycles a torsion spring will last depends on the wire and the length of the springs. (When your garage door lifts and closes one time, that equals one cycle.) Industrywide from the manufacturer is 10,000 cycles.
Ponderosa offers three spring replacement options:
- Standard Springs (10,000 cycles; two-year premature warranty)
- High Cycle Springs (25,000 cycles; five-year premature warranty)
- Super Life Springs (50,000 cycles; lifetime premature warranty)
Extension springs usually last around 10,000 cycles.
If your garage door is opened and closed regularly (two to four times a day), the springs will generally last between seven to 14 years. A properly functioning garage door system
Your garage door springs do all the heavy lifting of your door when you open and close it. If you are experiencing any sort of trouble with your garage door, it is important not to ignore it or try to tackle it yourself.
If the springs are not working properly, the full weight of the door could come crashing down, which could cause damage to your home, your vehicle, or a family member or pet.
Don’t delay in having your garage door checked and inspected annually. Especially if you suspect a broken garage door spring. Springs breaking across the top or side of the garage door means you will have trouble lifting the garage door. That’s one sign that perhaps a spring is broken.
Our team at Ponderosa Garage Doors has expertise in working with all garage door services including spring replacements, spring repairs, total garage door replacements, cable drums, commercial and residential garage door installations, maintenance, and more.
Call our experts today to get your appointment scheduled.