Garage door springs is essential components of a garage door since the springs provide the counterbalance for the garage door. The garage door contain a great deal of weight. The garage door springs make it seem as if the garage door is light when teh motor is moving it.
If the garage door spring is too weakly, the motor behind the garage door will have to work harder to lift the garage door. If the spring are too strong, the garage door may lift too quick, which is dangerous. The size of the spring must balance the weight of the garage door and the dimensions of the spring itself.
Garage Door Springs: What They Do and How to Replace Them
There are two types of garage door springs: torsion and extension. Torsion door springs are locate on a horizontal shaft above the garage door. The torsion spring works by twisting to create the tension needed to balance the garage door.
Extension door springs are located along side tracks of the garage door. Extension door springs work by stretching to create the tension needed to balance the garage door. Torsion door springs last longer then extension door springs.
Therefore, people often use torsion door springs on newer homes. Older homes may have extension door springs. Extension door springs are often equipped with safety cables to prevent the door from creating dangerous amounts of force if the extension spring should break.
In order to replace a garage door spring, one must understand three specific measurements of the spring. These measurements is the wire diameter, the inside diameter, and the overall length of the spring. The wire diameter of a spring is the thickness of the metal wire of the spring.
The thicker the wire, the more weight the spring can support. The inside diameter of the spring is the space within the spring coils. This measurement determine whether the spring will fit the garage door shaft.
The overall length of the spring is the length of the spring from one end to the other. This measurement determines how much the spring can expand or contract. These measurements cannot be guessed at when replacing a spring; otherwise, it will not function proper.
Many individuals will attempt to replace a garage door spring with another that is similar in appearance to the old spring. However, the specifications of the springs may be different. For example, the wire diameter or the length of the spring might be different.
This will make the garage door unbalanced. Additionally, an unbalanced garage door will cause the door to sag. It will also place strain on the garage door motor.
Use the chart that is provide with the garage door to determine the spring requirements based off the weight of the garage door and its size. In order to determine the specifications of the old garage door spring, one can measure the spring. A digital caliper can measure the diameter of the spring wire.
Alternatively, one can measure the length of ten coils of the spring and divide by ten to determine the length of one coil. Use a ruler to measure the inside diameter of the spring by measuring across the center of the spring coils. Use a ruler to measure the overall length of the spring from one end to the other.
Do not include the cones or the plugs in this measurement. The weight of the garage door will influence the type of spring needed for the garage door. The heavier the garage door, the more powerfully the spring must be.
A single-car steel garage door weighs approximately 100 lbs. A double-car garage door with insulation can weigh more then 200 lbs. Therefore, a heavier garage door will require a spring with a thicker wire diameter or a longer overall length for the spring.
If the spring is too light for the weight of the garage door, the garage door will not lift proper. When replacing the garage door springs, one should replace both of the springs at the same time. If only one spring is replace, the garage door will be unbalanced.
The old spring has endured many cycle of moving the garage door. It is likely to fail again soon. Therefore, one should replace both springs so that both have the same remaining life.
Additionally, the garage door should remain balanced. There are maintenance steps that can be taken to extend the life of the garage door spring. One step is to lubricate the springs every year.
A light coat of spring grease reduce the friction that builds up between the spring and the garage door. This also reduces the chance of the garage door developing rust. Use only lubricant that is specific to garage door springs.
This will ensure that you dont damage the spring. Finally, to ensure that the garage door springs are working properly, one can disconnect the garage door opener from the garage door. Then, lift the garage door to the height of an individual’s waist.
If the garage door remains at that height, the springs are working proper.
