The Secrets of Garage Door Torsion Springs
Torsion springs play a very important role every single time you open or close your garage door. Here’s what you should know about what they do, how they affect the lifecycle of your garage door, and what to do when they’re in need of repair.
How Do Torsion Springs Work?
Just like any spring, garage door torsion springs store mechanical energy, which makes them tighten. Torsion springs store energy by using a rotating or twisting motion. The advantage of garage door torsion springs over conventional springs is that they can store lot more energy because they are made from a denser material.
What do they do?
Torsion springs are normally mounted horizontally above the opening of your garage door. When you pull the door down, cables attached to the bottom corners actually force the springs to wind up, in turn energizing the system. When you open the door, the springs then unwind and their energy transfers to the door, helping it to lift up and making it easier to open.
Lifecycle & Tension Ratings
As the door is opened and closed over time, the steel in the springs can start to weaken as the door gradually becomes too heavy for them, rendering them less effective. The springs will eventually break, leaving the door closed. Torsion springs can also be affected by rust and cold weather. The good news is, the average garage door torsion springs will last somewhere between 5-7 years, and should last around 10,000 cycles. So, if you open and close your garage door 3-5 times a day for over 365 days in a year, you should get plenty of life out of your torsion springs.
Dangers and Risks
A garage door with a broken torsion spring can fall rapidly and cause injury or death. However, the most common danger comes when your torsion springs break and you decide to undertake the repair/replace them yourself. Torsion springs can be very dangerous, and you not only need the exact tools for the job, but also need to have a good knowledge of the mechanics involved. Some of the parts involved in such a process can be life threatening, and must be handled with care and precision, which is why it is always recommended that you call in a professional, rather than trying to handle a replacement or repair by yourself. Failure to do so may leave you with injuries and/or damage to your property.