Garage Door Springs

The Ultimate Guide to Garage Door Springs

What are Garage Door Springs?

Garage door springs are responsible for carrying the weight of your garage door and allowing it to open and close. They’re also one of the most frequent repairs we deal with here at All Access Overhead Door.

We’re here to break down everything you need to know about these springs. So keep reading to learn what you can do to prolong your spring’s life, how to tell when they’re broken, and more!

garage door spring replacement

The Types of Garage Door Springs

Torsion Springs

Torsion springs are the most common springs for both commercial and residential garage doors. They’re the safest and the most reliable springs out there. And they last the longest!

Torsion springs operate by rotating in a coil to lift and lower the garage door. This coil is easy to see as it’s located directly above the garage door. It takes up very little room and is relatively easy to replace.

Extension Springs

Extension springs are less common but are still seen sometimes. These operate by extending to raise and lower the door. You can find these running along either side of your door’s tracks on the ceiling.

They take up considerably more room and are more likely to fly out when broken. In addition, they’re less controlled, meaning the door will open in a much jerkier fashion.

Since torsion springs are so common and much safer, we’ll assume this is the type of spring you currently have in your home. That being said, most of this information applies to extension springs as well.

Why are Garage Door Springs Important?

Garage door springs are one of the main aspects of your garage door system. They’re what allows your door to seamlessly open and close. Here’s how that works:

  • The springs carry all of the tension in their tightly wound coils.
  • This tension holds enough energy to be able to lift the extremely heavy garage door.
  • It also holds the garage door in place if you let go of it.
  • Because of the tension, it’s very easy to manually open the door.
  • The springs also keep the door perfectly balanced.

Without garage door springs, you wouldn’t be able to lift your door, have it stay open, or use it at all. The springs work closely with other parts of the garage door system, such as the cable and the tracks, to make sure that everything runs smoothly with your door when you operate it.

How Long do Garage Door Springs Last?

Most springs are designed to last for approximately 10,000 cycles. Each cycle is one full opening and closing of your garage door. If you used your garage door once a day, your springs would last for about 13 years. Since most people use their doors more often than this, your springs will likely last 10-12 years. Once they reach the end of their lifecycles, they tend to separate, and eventually snap.

How to Care for Garage Door Springs

Your garage door springs need regular care to help them function at their best. Having them lubricated and tightened once or twice a year is a great way to keep them performing well for a long time.

Annual maintenance goes a long way in prolonging their lifespan. Most spring care should be done by professionals, but there are some things you can do as well.

Lubricating your springs is a great way to keep them in good shape. Spring lubrication is available at most hardware stores and is easy to apply. This is a simple way to stay on top of your spring maintenance. We recommend applying lubrication twice a year; the fall and the spring are the best times for this.

It’s also good to schedule maintenance at least once a year. A trained technician will be able to tighten your springs and spot any potential issues long before they happen.

garage door springs

Of course, after many years, your springs will eventually break. When this happens, don’t attempt to use your garage door! Remember all that tension we talked about? It can cause the springs to snap out and potentially injure someone.

In addition, operating your door with a broken spring can put unnecessary stress on the opener and cables, causing them to get damaged as well. Damage to other hardware parts in your garage door system leads to more costly repairs. Your door is also likely to slam shut, which can also cause injuries. Avoid prolonging spring repair, and leave a spring replacement to the professionals.

Signs You Have a Broken Garage Door Spring

  • Your garage door slams shut unexpectedly.
  • You notice 3-4″ gaps in your coils.
  • You heard a loud snapping sound from your garage door.
  • Your garage door opens at an angle.
  • Your garage door starts to open/close and then stops/reverses.
  • Your garage door makes a grinding noise.
  • You notice loose or falling coils.

Need Garage Door Spring Replacement?

If you need a garage door spring replacement or just regular spring maintenance, All Access Overhead Door is here for you! Our technicians are trained to expertly replace your springs, so you won’t have to worry about a thing! Give us a call and we’ll help you get your garage door back to normal.

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