They may all look similar, but garage door springs differ in types, sizes, and strengths, and each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Your garage door’s size, weight, and the material will determine the type of spring you need. If you need a broken spring replacement, make sure you obtain the right extension spring or torsion spring for your garage door. This article will help you understand the basics that go into getting the correct spring for your garage door.
Types of Garage Door Springs
There are two different types of springs that could be on your door.
Torsion Springs
The first and the more common type is the torsion spring. It is mounted on a bar above the door, and you can see it when you close the door. It expands whenever it is under tension, and then it compresses back whenever it breaks. When it is broken, you will see a gap between the coils. Torsion springs serve the same purpose for all garage doors, but the components and setup will vary depending on the spring system.
Extension Springs
The second type of spring is the extension spring. This type stretches alongside the track on both sides of the door, and it independently lifts each side of the door, so there are typically two of these on a 7-foot tall door. Hooks and loops are the two most common end kinds of extension springs. Loops are completely closed all the way around, whereas hooks have a gap.
Selecting the Right Garage Door Spring
The following are the steps that will help you know what garage door spring to get.
Identify the wind direction
Examine the garage door springs. Your garage door most likely has two springs: the left and right springs, which are separated by a divider located at the door's midpoint. To get the correct torsion spring, you need to determine if it is left-wound or right-wound. A left-wound spring has its endpoints in a clockwise direction, while a right-wound spring has its endpoints in an anticlockwise manner.
Measure the wire diameter
To determine the suitable wire size, measure (in inches) the distinct distance between 10 and 20 coils of the particular spring that has to be replaced and check it against the wire size measuring chart. You can find comparison charts on the Internet.
Get the spring's overall length and inside diameter of the spring (IOD)
This is a relatively simple step as most garage door springs have this dimension inscribed on them. The (IOD) inside diameter of the spring of the springs should be measured to the nearest 1/6 inch, and the overall length of the spring should be measured to the nearest 1/4 inch.
Determine the spring's color code
You can save time measuring the spring's various dimensions by checking its color code. Extension springs are color-coded according to the door weight, while torsion springs are colored in two ways: one to indicate wind direction and another to indicate wire gauge. All you have to do to find the correct spring is look for this stripe and show it to the garage door supplier. This color will provide them with all of the information they require to recognize spring.
Over time, all garage doors will need to have their springs replaced. When it is time for your garage door spring replacement, call us at Garage Doors 4 U Longmont. We specialize in garage door repair, garage door spring installation, garage door spring repair, among other garage door services. Our experts are flexible and ready to help with an emergency garage door repair. To request Free Estimates, call us at (720) 600-4848.
garage door spring replacement