Garage Door Spring Replacement

January 3rd, 2014 Posted in Garage Door Spring Replacement
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Typical garage doors can weigh up to 300 pounds or more, depending upon the size as well as the material used in the door.  All garage doors use springs to support the weight of the door and the springs are tightened and loosened as the garage door undergoes tens of thousands of opening and closing cycles.  Basically the springs exert a force equal to the weight of a garage door, making the door effectively weighing nothing when the door is opened.  Although very durable, eventually these springs will wear out and break from use.   When this happens, it is still possible to open the door, however you will be lifting the full weight of the door. 

Garage doors use either torsion springs or extension springs to support the weight of the door.  Although they do the same thing the springs are located in different places, with torsion springs being located at the top of the garage door, while extension springs are located on the sides of the door.  

Replacement of either type of spring should be done by a licensed and insured garage door contractor for a number of reasons.  The main reason is because of safety.  Garage door springs are under a great deal of tension during and after the installation process.  The correct installation is required in order to avoid serious injury or even death.  In addition, often there are specialized tools required to add tension to the spring once installed.  A qualified and highly trained technician will be able to install these springs quickly economically and most importantly safely!

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

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Garage Door Springs Basic Information

September 17th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Spring Replacement
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Modern overhead garage doors rely on springs to help make opening and closing the door safe and easy.  Garage doors can weigh between 100 lbs and 400 lbs and would be difficult or impossible to open without the assistance of the garage door springs.  In addition, without the springs, a closing garage door could cause serious, potentially fatal injuries to anyone trapped under the door.

Garage door springs store energy as the door closes and releases that energy as the door is opened.  Extension springs and torsion springs are the two common types of garage door springs.  Extension springs are mounted along the horizontal garage door tracks and store energy by extending as the door is closed.  They contract again when the garage door is opened.  Torsion springs mount along the top of the door opening.  Torsion springs coil and uncoil as the garage door is opened and closed.

When the springs are properly adjusted, even the heaviest garage doors can be manually opened with ease.  To check if your garage door springs are properly adjusted, disengage the door from the automatic garage door opener and manually open the door halfway.  When you release the door, it should remain in the half-opened position.  If the door continues to open, the spring tension is too high.  If the door starts closing, then the spring tension is too low.

In either case, have the garage door springs adjusted by a qualified garage door technician.  Garage door springs are under tremendous tension and can easily cause a serious injury.  Your garage door technician will have the training and experience to safely adjust your garage door springs to the proper tension.

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Why Do Garage Door Springs Break?

September 14th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Spring Replacement
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Overhead garage doors use lift assist springs to help open the door.  Garage doors are much heavier than most people realize.  A single garage door can weigh 100 pounds and double garage doors can weigh 200 pounds or more.  Without the lift assist springs, the garage door would be very difficult if not impossible for a homeowner to open by hand.

Garage door springs are placed under very high loads every time the garage door is closed.  Depending on your family’s usage habits, a garage door might be opened and closed 500 to 1,000 times per year.  Each opening and closing is called a cycle and the metal in the spring is fatigued slightly during each cycle.  After a certain number of cycles, the spring will fail.

Most garage door springs will last between 5 and 10 years depending on the quality of the steel in the spring, the size of the spring, and the garage door opening and closing habits of the homeowner and their family.  When one garage door spring fails, both springs should be replaced by an experienced garage door technician.  The non-broken spring will not be as strong as the new spring and the door could become unbalanced.  In addition, when one spring fails, the second spring is usually not far behind.  Having both springs replaced together will help the door operate smoothly and avoid a second service call by your garage door repair technician.

Never try to replace or repair a garage door spring yourself.  Garage door springs are under tremendous pressure and the force of a suddenly released spring can maim or kill.  Garage door technicians have the training and experience in garage door service and repair to safely handle garage door spring.

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Garage Door Spring Changes-Do You Really Need Those Extra Parts?

July 20th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Companies, Garage Door Contractors, Garage Door Repairs, Garage Door Spring Replacement, Garage Door Springs, Garage Door Torsion Springs
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If you overhead garage door isn’t working and you’ve determined that you have a broken garage door spring, here is some important information to help keep you from getting ripped off. Garage door springs are eventually going to wear out and break from usage. Generally the springs supplied by the garage door manufacturer are rated for 10,000 cycles, so depending on how many times a day you open and close your garage door you can do the math and determine the life expectancy of your garage door springs.

With that being said most of the other components on your overhead garage door are very reliable and are seldom a cause for a garage door repair. If your garage door installation was properly executed then most of the other moving parts on your overhead door seldom if ever need replacement.

Getting to the point, many garage door repair companies today have slashed the cost of replacement garage door springs so much that the only way they can turn a profit is to sell you additional replacement garage door parts whether you need them or not.   A reputable local garage door repair company will sell new replacement garage door springs only and not try to sell you a bunch of extra parts that virtually never wear out. Garage door cable drums for example are often sold as a way of making extra profits and I can assure you that unless a set screw is stripped or the casting is cracked they virtually never need replacement. Furthermore with little exception if your cable drum is damaged it’s due to improper handling or installation. Garage door torsion spring shafts are also sold usually un-necessarily as another means of additional profits.  Torsion spring bearings do occasionally wear out and will need to be replaced and the wear is obvious so if you are in doubt ask to inspect the alleged worn parts.  Overhead garage door hinges will occasionally break but not often and again the need to replace them is visually evident.

When you need replacement garage door springs for your overhead door don’t be afraid to speak up, ask questions and protect your hard earned money from the garage door rip off artists.

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Garage Door Repair-Always Check Your Cables

June 14th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Companies, Garage Door Contractors, Garage Door Repairs, Garage Door Spring Replacement, Garage Door Springs, Garage Door Torsion Springs
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When you hire a garage door repair company to fix your overhead door or automatic garage door opener you want to make sure that the repair company you contract with checks out your entire garage door especially the garage door cables.

An overhead garage door is simply put a counterbalance system which allows you the homeowner or your automatic garage door opener to effortlessly lift the garage door.

The power or torque from the garage door springs acts to counterbalance the weight of your garage door and this transfer of power is accomplished through the use of your garage door cables. Whether your garage door has extension springs or torsion type springs the weight of your overhead door is lifted via the garage door cables.

Depending on the size of your garage door and construction this weight can vary from as little as 50 pounds to 600 pounds which makes the condition of your garage door cables extremely important. That’s why whenever your garage door is repaired you want to make sure your garage door repair company checks your cables for wear and tear.

Garage door cables are usually constructed of stranded galvanized wire and are constantly rolling under-load from the garage door weight over metal surfaces that create friction and wear. This kind of load and wear will over time cause you garage door cable to fray and eventually break in two. When you garage door cable frays it will cause the door to become crooked when operating and prematurely wear other components and damage your garage door or opener.

Garage door cables also corrode and will create the need for a garage door repair.

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Garage Door Springs Require Replacement

June 9th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Companies, Garage Door Contractors, Garage Door Spring Replacement, Garage Door Springs, Garage Door Torsion Springs
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Garage door springs much like your car tires, brakes or shoes for that matter routinely wear out and need to be replaced. Replacement garage door springs whether they are torsion springs, extension springs or a Wayne-Dalton Torquemaster spring system will eventually with usage wear out and when they do you’ll have a broken garage door spring.

Every time your overhead garage door opens and closes it completes 1 cycle. The springs on your overhead garage door are rated in life cycles usually a minimum of 10,000 cycles and when they reach their life expectancy at bear minimum will become weak and not lift your garage door properly but in most cases they’ll break. When you garage door spring is broken and your automatic garage door opener won’t lift the garage door and your garage will be in-accessible.

The longer you remain in your home and the more often you use your garage door the more likely you’ll need replacement garage door springs installed. If you use your overhead door 5 times or more a day on average you might want to consider having your garage door repair company install longer life garage door springs for your overhead door.

Usually the cost of replacement garage door springs will vary from market to market and you can expect a range of 150.00 to 300.00 for standard 10,000 cycle garage door springs and an upcharge of 40-100. The upcharge will vary depending on the increase in life cycles of your garage door springs.

When you hire a garage door repair company be sure to have them check your entire garage door and automatic opener as a broken garage door spring can damage the garage door opener.

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Why Do Garage Door Springs Break and Need To Be Repaired

June 7th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Companies, Garage Door Contractors, Garage Door Repairs, Garage Door Spring Replacement, Garage Door Springs, Garage Door Torsion Springs
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In today’s busy environment most people are constantly on the go and because transportation is involved your overhead garage door gets quite a workout. Because of today’s society and the concern for personal and home security more and more people park their cars in the garage keep their garage doors closed. For many people the entire family comes and goes through the garage door so it’s not unusual for the garage door to be operated 3-5 times per day or more and if there are kids involved 10 times or more per day isn’t unusual.

Simply put garage door torsion springs and garage door extension springs break from normal wear and tear, they fatigue and break causing the need for garage door spring replacement.

When your garage door spring is broken in most cases the garage door opener will not lift overhead door leaving you trapped in the garage or locked out of your garage. Garage door springs are rated in life cycles much like tires are rated in mileage. Typically the garage door manufacturers supply 10,000 cycles springs with every new garage door manufactured.

A garage door cycle is defined as follows; from the closed position the garage door is opened and closed again this is considered to be 1 cycle. Now 10,000 cycles seems like a lot but let’s do the math and see. 365 days a year times a measly 3 operations a day is 1095 cycles translating to approximately 9 years of garage door spring life. Double the cycles to 6 cycles a day and you end up with about 4.5 years of garage door spring life.

If you stay in your home long enough your garage door spring is going to break causing the need to have your garage door torsion springs or extension springs to be replaced

Keep in mind how often you use your overhead garage door and if the frequency of usage is high then ask your garage door repair company to quote you longer life cycle springs.

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Replacement Garage Door Extension Springs

May 28th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Spring Replacement, Garage Door Springs, Garage Door Torsion Springs
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Garage door springs like most repairs are a combination of common sense, a bit of knowhow and most importantly the proper tools for the job.  If you’re handy and mechanically inclined it might be feasible for you to replace your own garage door springs, if not then leave your replacement garage door springs to the professionals.

Here are a few basics just to give you an idea of how it works. Extension garage door springs which are mainly found on residential garage doors and usually on 10’ wide doors or less are always replaced in pairs. When it’s time to replace extension springs or adjust extension springs the garage door is always put in the open position. The garage door opener should be unplugged and the overhead door secured in the open position. When the garage door is in the open position the minimum load is on the extension springs which allows disconnection and the installation of replacement garage door springs or adjustment.

Today’s extension springs usually have double end loops and should always be installed with safety cables which will usually be an additional charge by any reputable garage door repair company. The safety cable in event of spring or cable failure will prevent a fully loaded spring from flying through the air and damaging property or seriously injuring someone.

A professional garage door repair company will always inspect the related moving parts for wear and recommend replacement cables, safety cables, sheave wheels or pulleys and garage door rollers. Replacing some of the failing components but not all will only cause a future service problem and create a potential safety hazard.

Garage door springs when adjusted properly will allow your overhead garage door to work smooth and quiet and will also prolong the life of your garage door and automatic garage door opener.

Proper lubrication is also a must and will allow the related components to your garage door springs to work free without binding and again promotes a safe, smooth and quiet garage door.

This blog post was provided by Duluth GA Garage Doors

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Garage Door Springs, Garage Door Torsion Springs

May 28th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Spring Replacement, Garage Door Springs, Garage Door Torsion Springs
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If you’re trying to operate your overhead garage door with the garage door opener and it won’t open or seems to struggle chances are you have a broken garage door spring.

All overhead garage doors regardless of size or style have some type of garage door springs for a counterbalance to the weight of the garage door. Today’s garage doors can weigh as little as 50 pounds all the way up to 700 pounds. The garage door springs make it possible for you to lift your overhead door by hand and also make it possible for the automatic garage door opener to lift the door. When a door is in the closed position the garage door springs are at full load, when the overhead door is in the open position the springs have very little load on them, just enough to hold the door open and without the assistance of the garage door springs your door would be almost impossible to lift.

Your overhead garage door will have one of the following types of springs: extension springs, these are usually found on 8-9’ wide garage doors only, torsion springs, these can be found on any size of garage door and Torquemaster torsion springs which are a proprietary product found only on Wayne-Dalton brand garage doors.

Doors equipped with garage door extension springs will have 1 spring on each side of the garage door and they usually mount at the back of the track and when the garage door is closed the springs will stretch to their fully extended position. These springs are the most dangerous and should be treated with caution.

Overhead doors equipped with garage door torsion springs will be found on a torsion bar which is usually mounted about 12” above the garage door on the front wall. Your overhead door depending on size and weight may have 1, 2 or more garage door springs mounted on this bar. Garage door torsion springs are wound with winding bars and then locked onto the torsion bar with set screws. Garage door torsion springs are fully loaded in the closed position.

Wayne-Dalton garage doors equipped with the Torquemaster system are unique to that brand only and like the conventional torsion springs they mount about 12” directly above the overhead door. The unique difference is the springs are very small in diameter and are actually hidden inside the torsion pipe assembly.

This blog post was provided by Roswell garage door repair company

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Garage Door Replacement Torsion Springs (Truth & Lies)

April 27th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Contractors, Garage Door Spring Replacement, Garage Door Springs, Garage Door Torsion Springs
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For those of you who have a broken garage door torsion spring and are trying to sort through what’s true and what’s a sales gimmick here is some garage door torsion spring fact and fiction, I hope you’ll find very helpful.

There are two types of garage door replacement torsion springs available. The most common type is the “oil tempered spring”, this particular construction has been around since the beginning of garage doors and is the most commonly found torsion spring. The other type of torsion spring that you’ll find is a galvanized torsion spring that is shiny and is touted to last longer and not get your hands dirty. On a side note we don’t recommend consumers handle the springs so who cares about dirty.

Now assuming that you have two identical doors and one door has oil tempered torsion springs and the other has galvanized torsion springs if they are installed at the same time and used the same amount of cycles then the oil tempered torsion spring would break before the galvanized torsion spring, this is a fact. Now here is where it gets tricky.

It’s extremely important that the proper springs are installed on your garage door the same as it would be that you wear the proper size shoe that fits you. It’s also extremely important for safe operation of the garage door manually and with an automatic garage door opener that the door be balanced so here is why “Oil Tempered Springs” are the only way to go.

The keywords here are a “balanced garage door”. The oil tempered garage door torsion springs installed today will still have essentially the same tensile strength one year from now and if the garage door was balanced it will still be balanced a year later. The galvanized garage door torsion springs will have lost approximately 9-15% of their tensile strength causing the garage door to no longer be balanced. In order to re-balance the door a service visit will be required at an added cost to you and tension will be added to the door. Each time tension is added to your garage door you shorten the life of the spring and since galvanized torsion springs continue to lose their tensile strength you’ll need to re-balance the door every year until the spring breaks.

Oil tempered garage door torsion springs cost a few bucks more but you’ll save big in the long run!

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