The garage door is located between the house and the street. The garage door require extension springs to move up. The extension springs are located along the side tracks of the garage door.
The size of the extension spring affect the ease of movement of the garage door. If the extension spring is of a wrong length or thickness, the garage door will either slam down or it will not stay up. The extension spring must provide tension for the garage door to move.
How to Choose the Right Garage Door Extension Spring
Therefore, a person must use a size chart that comes with the garage door to determine the correct extension spring to use. The size chart for extension springs shows the length of the extension spring based off the height of the garage door. The longer the garage door, the more longer the extension spring.
A seven-foot garage door will take a twenty-five inch extension spring. An eight-foot garage door will require a twenty-eight-inch extension spring. If the extension spring is too short for the garage door, the extension spring will stay stretched even when the garage door is closed.
The repeated tension will shorten the life of the extension spring. Additionally, the life of the cable will also be shorten. Wire thickness is just as important than the length of the extension spring.
The size chart will show the gauge of the wire. There is four gauge of wire. A thin gauge of wire will work for a lightweight steel garage door.
However, it will not work for an insulated or wooden garage door. Using a thin gauge of wire on a heavy garage door will eventually stretch the extension spring. A heavier gauge of wire will add stiffness to the extension spring.
Therefore, a person must ensure that the weight of the garage door match the extension spring. Otherwise, the garage door opener will struggle to operate the door. Another factor to consider is the radius of the track.
The radius of the track determine how the extension spring will function when the garage door is opening and closing. Most house have a two-inch radius where the door turns from vertical to horizontal. A two-inch radius will keep the extension spring short and the hardware for the garage door compact.
Some garage doors has a higher rise before turning to a horizontal position. These doors have a three-inch or four-inch radius. A wider radius will reduce the stress on the extension spring.
The wider radius will allow the garage door to be farther away from the ceiling. The size chart will pair each type of radius to the extension spring length. A person should measure the old extension spring before buying a new one.
A person needs to measure the length of the extension spring from hook to hook while the extension spring is not stretched. Additionally, the diameter of the wire should be measured in thousandths of an inch. A person can use a digital caliper to measure the diameter of the extension spring wire.
Alternatively, a person can count the number of coils in a span of ten and divide the length by ten. The material of the garage door will affect the extension spring that works best with the garage door. The material will determine the weight of the garage door.
Steel garage doors are lighter than wooden or glass garage door. Insulated doors will also be heavier. A person must know the material of the garage door to determine the gauge of wire that the extension spring should have.
The size chart will show the weight of the garage doors and the extension spring gauges that work the best. Safety cables run through the extension spring to keep the garage door safe. If the extension spring breaks, the safety cable will prevent the extension spring from whipping across the garage.
Because extension springs store alot of energy, a person must disconnect the garage door opener and clamp the garage door before replacing the extension spring. A person should always replace both extension spring. This is to ensure that the remaining extension spring isnt in a fatigued state after replacing only one of them.
A person should treat the extension spring as a set. Even if only one extension spring fail, both extension springs should be replaced. They experience the same number of cycles and weather condition.
A high-cycle extension spring will last longer and cost a person more money upfront. However, they will save money over time because they wont have to change the extension spring as often. High-cycle extension springs can extend the life of the extension spring from seven years to fifteen year.
To choose the right extension spring, a person must consider the weight and travel distance of the garage door. A person should look at the garage door, the extension spring tracks and the way that the garage door is used before purchasing the extension spring. Ensuring that the weight of the garage door, the extension spring and the travel distance of the garage door will allow for the garage door to move steady.
You should of checked the size chart first. To be honest, making sure you’re getting the right part is most important.
