Types of Garage Door Springs – Everything You Should Know

Garages are an important part of most properties, and you can find various garage types as you drive down the street. These parking spaces often have different garage doors, which open and close impressively. 

You should know that garage door movements are aided with springs; hence, these parts require much attention. All types of garage door springs are tasked with offsetting the door’s weight to make it easy to open or close. 

Kindly note that these springs does so by stretching or torquing some individual parts of the door to aid in the weight balancing. For proper functioning and safety repairs, it is best to understand garage door springs and how they work. You can rely on the details exposed in this piece.

Different Types of Garage Door Springs

When it comes to the functionality of garage doors, some key parts need to be in sync, and one such part is the door springs. Unlike common belief, the entrance does not open due to any garage door opener.

Thus, it would interest you to know that the spring does majorly open the garage door. It counterbalances the weight, ensuring the opening and closing processes are smooth and easy.

So, how many types of garage door springs are there?

There exist two different types of garage door springs employed when installing garage doors and come in handy for smooth operations. These springs are the torsion and extension springs.

Torsion Garage Door Springs

Torsion springs are the most common options you would find in most garage doors, which employ torque for performing their function. Kindly note that torque emerges as a twisting force that leads to a rotation. 

So, the coil twists and twines on the shaft when the garage door opens or closes. Such springs are durable, sturdy, and long-lasting, compared to some others. The spring number on each door varies, corresponding to the door’s weight, size, and strength.

It is fastened to a metal shaft sited above the door, and the shaft may pass through the spring’s middle or house the spring depending on the types of “garage door torsion springs system.” Torsion springs are further grouped into:

Early Set Torsion Spring

This type of torsion spring mounts at the center of the shaft, using hardware placed at the end of each torsion shaft close to the cable drums.

Torque Master Torsion Spring

The Torque Master garage door spring appears one of the safest and comes enclosed within the torsion shaft, held by a winding cone at each torsion rod’s end.

Standard Torsion Spring

Most homes have garage doors with this type of spring, and they are mounted atop the openings of the parking space. It is very common for light-weight garage doors to use one of these spring types instead of the double meant for heavier doors.

Steel Rolling Door Torsion Spring

If you are familiar with the garage doors of commercial buildings, you would often notice this type of spring. They are installed in many commercial buildings and placed in the torsion barrel supporting the door’s rolling.

Extension Garage Door Springs

Extensional springs for garage doors are common with low headroom, ensuring it is unfit for applying rear torsion springs. These springs are often employed for sectional garage doors, placed atop the horizontal tracks overhead. 

While the door lowers, the extension springs start stretching to gain tension from the door’s weight. Again, they operate independently but require an equal distribution of the door’s weight for optimal functioning. 

What is more interesting is the safety cables that come with these springs. If there is any malfunction that causes the springs to break free, it is restricted from shooting freely and causing severe harm thanks to the safety cable.

Considering the ends of these springs, they are further grouped into:

Clipped Ends

The extension springs with clipped ends are considered the most durable, with longer service life. Its long-lasting feature stems from less stress the clips place on the strings. Constructors employ these clip ends for extension springs installed in garage doors weighing up to 200 pounds and above. But, this garage door spring replacement appears as the most challenging.

Open Looped

This spring depends on an open wire at its end. One advantage of extension springs is that they are quite easy to replace since there is no need to open the eyebolt or disassemble the pulley. But once broken, you need to change the entire spring even though only a small fragment is affected.

Double Looped

The double looped garage door springs have two coils at each spring’s end, connecting to the pulley and eyebolt. While this option emerges stronger than the open looped springs, replacing it may seem not easy.

FAQs

Q: How do I know what garage door springs I need?

From size to weight to type, there are a few factors you have to consider when choosing a spring for your garage door. You can get the accurate spring size by measuring the length of the old spring you want to replace; a “garage door spring size chart” can help.

The weight should come from the pith with which the existing spring is wound. While extension springs may seem cheaper, it is most useful for residential applications, and the opposite applies to torsion springs since they are common in commercial buildings.

Q: Which garage door spring type is best?

Comparing torsion vs. extension garage door springs, it might interest you to know that both work under tremendous forces, coiling and recoiling in their peculiar ways. Even though torsion springs are costlier, you would find them offering a smooth opening and closing operation.

This durable option lasts longer, and its concealed parts make it safer for garage doors, especially for commercial applications. Nevertheless, extension springs are cost-effective and functional and can work well for residential settings.

Q: Which is better, torsion or extension springs?

The two types of garage door springs work tremendously. However, torsion springs are pretty durable and sturdier than extension springs.

While torsion springs last over 15,000 and 20,000 cycles, you would only find extension springs lasting for about 10,000 cycles. With better balance and greater control, you can also depend on torsion springs to work better without letting the garage door jerk.

Q: What is the color code on garage door springs?

Garage springs come in varying colors, and these serve intricate purposes other than being decorative. The spring colors are codes that hold crucial details that help homeowners on “how to know what garage door spring to buy.” You can understand better with the presentation of the tables below.

 Table 1: Color Code Chart for Garage Door Extension Spring

Table 2: Color Code Chart for Garage Door Torsion Spring

Q: How many springs should be in a garage door?

It is a general rule for single garage doors to use one torsion spring and a double-wide door to use double springs. Nevertheless, garage doors come in varying weights, and very heavy single doors might take up to two springs.

Be sure you don’t ignore the weight of the door, as using single springs for exceptionally heavy doors would not be suitable. Since the springs exert forces that make the door lightweight enough to lift up, it is best to install the right number needed.

Q: Can I use a longer torsion spring on my garage door?

Whether or not the garage door has been functioning for several years and you need it to last longer, torsion springs can help you achieve your goal. In most cases, larger springs also help in improving the service life of the door.

Furthermore, some experts recommend such even though you double costs since the result is tremendous. 

Q: What is the cost of replacing a garage door torsion spring?

Garage door spring replacement cost varies based on several factors. But, you should find suitable options around $180 to $350 if you seek the service of an expert who can conduct a satisfactory job.

Kindly note that the cost mentioned above covers the cost of the springs and labor. Extension and torsion springs often cost around $10 to $100, and labor ranges from $40 to $70. If you want to replace these springs yourself and seek where to buy garage door springs, you can check various hardware stores.

Q: What is the average lifespan of garage door springs?

Knowing the average service life of garage door springs is crucial and can leave a clue of when to replace them without any hassles. If correctly installed, an average garage door spring should last up to 10,000 opening and closing cycles.

The longevity also depends on how often you go into the garage, as less door movement would mean the springs should last longer. Without frequent use, the springs should last up to 14 years after their first installation. 

Q: How much time does changing garage door springs take?

Garage door spring replacements may be time-consuming; the time to take out the old springs varies depending on the type and size. But, this usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour and might take much longer if it is an old garage door that has several failing parts.

Final Words

Garage door springs are crucial elements that play significant roles in the opening and closing movement of the different garage doors. Yes, the door’s motor coupled with electricity gets it going, but the springs make these other components useful.

“How to identify garage door springs,” “how to replace old-style garage door springs,” and similar concerns have been on the mind of most people. Thus, knowing the types of garage door springs can help ensure you make the right decision while shopping for replacement options.