Have you ever looked at the metal spring above your garage door and wondered, ‘What’s that for?’ Pull up a chair, and I’ll explain in simple terms. These springs are the reason your garage door opens and closes with ease, and they’re more important than most people realize. By the end, you’ll understand how they work, why they’re essential, and why maintaining them is so important.
The Purpose of Garage Door Springs
Garage door springs are essential components in the garage door system. Their primary purpose is to counterbalance the heavy weight of the garage door, making it possible to open and close it with ease. It aims to do the opening and closing much easier, whether it’s for you or for your opener. Without springs, lifting a garage door would require significant effort—even with an automatic opener. These springs store energy when the door is closed and release it as the door opens, ensuring smooth and controlled movement. You might not think about them often, but they’re working hard every time you press that button.
Springs Types
There are two main types of springs you’ll find on garage doors: torsion springs and extension springs. Newer homes in San Antonio usually have torsion springs, but some older setups still use extension springs. Let’s break them down so you’ll know what you’re looking at.
Torsion Springs: The Strong Ones
Torsion springs sit above your garage door, stretched out across a metal bar. When your door closes, these springs wind up tightly, storing energy. When you open the door, the springs release that energy, helping to lift it smoothly. Think of it like winding up a toy car and letting it go—it’s all about stored power.
Now, here’s a heads-up: torsion springs are under a lot of pressure. If you try to mess with them without the right tools or skills, things can go wrong fast. I’ve seen people try to fix them on their own, and let’s just say it didn’t end well. Leave this one to the pros. These springs also tend to last longer than extension springs, which is why they’re more common in newer homes.
Extension Springs: The Old-School Helpers
Extension springs are on the sides of the garage door. They stretch when the door is closed and contract when it opens. They’re simpler than torsion springs but tend to wear out faster. Also, they’re noisier, so if your garage door sounds like it’s growling, you might have extension springs that need some care.
One thing to be cautious about with extension springs is their tendency to snap suddenly when they become old or damaged. If you notice a spring hanging loose or broken, stop using the door immediately and call a technician for springs repair.
Conversion from Extension Spring to Torsion Spring
If you have an older garage door with extension springs and you’re tired of dealing with their noise and faster wear, you might want to consider upgrading to torsion springs. Converting from extension springs to torsion springs isn’t just about getting a quieter, smoother operation. Torsion springs are generally safer, more durable, and require less maintenance in the long run. To learn more about whether a torsion spring conversion is right for you, check out this detailed guide: Is Torsion Conversion Worth It?.
Common Mistakes and Pro Tips
Let me share a quick story. Once, I went to a house for a garage door repair in Boerne. The homeowner had tried to fix a broken spring by himself, thinking it would save time and money. Unfortunately, the spring came loose and jammed the door completely because he had used the wrong spring and didn’t install it properly.
When I arrived, I carefully removed the spring, installed a new torsion spring, and ensured everything was balanced and secure. Here’s the thing—replacing a garage door spring is more dangerous than it looks. Someone could get seriously hurt, or the property could be damaged, including critical components of the garage door system.
It’s always better to leave jobs like this to a pro who knows the risks and how to handle them safely.
Here’s a tip: If your garage door starts opening unevenly or slams shut too fast, it’s probably a spring problem. Don’t ignore it! Running the door with a bad spring can damage other parts, and that can get expensive. It’s better to fix the spring early than to wait for the damage to spread.