Garage Door Torsion Springs 101

Your garage door opener smoothly opens and closes a garage door that weighs hundreds of pounds with the help of a spring. Torsion springs are one of the most common movement devices used in garage doors, using the energy of the spring form to lift the heavy door. This is one of the most important components of your garage door opening system; without it, the opener could not lift your garage door. Here is a basic guide to garage door torsion springs and what you need to know.

The principal behind torsion springs is the same as any door with a spring; wind up the spring and it will have stored energy that will help move the door. For garage doors, torsion springs are usually installed horizontally on the ceiling opening hardware. The ends of the spring are attached to each cable that lifts the door. When the door closes, the spring winds up. When the door needs to open, the stored energy is released as the spring unwinds and transferred to moving the door up.

This simple process can be trusted for thousands of cycles of opening your garage door up and down. Most torsion springs can last about 10,000 cycles, giving you several years of use before they need to be replaced. However, weather and use will wear them out, and when they break it, the garage door they support can slam shut. This can be dangerous, and it can be very risky to try and replace a spring on your own.

Torsion springs should be replaced about every 5-7 years. Make sure to have yours inspected each year as part of your annual service for your garage door opener. It is best to proactively replace springs when recommended, versus waiting for them to break, so follow the advice of your local garage door service company.

Posted on behalf of: 
Habpro Garage Doors
Dacula, GA 30019
770-985-3355

How Old Is Your Garage Door Spring?

If you don’t know the answer to, “How old is your garage door spring?”, it may be time to find out. Like all mechanical devices, garage door openers and their working parts wear out and need maintenance and service. Most garage door springs will last several years with normal wear and tear. However, you don’t want to wait until your spring breaks in the middle of the night to find out it needs to be replaced. You could end up with your vehicle stuck in your garage until a garage door service can replace your spring.

When a garage door spring snaps, it can be dangerous. Most garage doors weight a few hundred pounds and a snapped spring could allow your door to crash down on your vehicle, or worse, you or someone in your family. Because of the high tension and risk of injury, springs should be replaced by a professional that has the experience and training to safely remove the spring and install a new one.

The best way to avoid a surprise garage door spring break is to have your garage door regularly serviced. A maintenance service will ensure your door is balanced, that all sensors are working correctly, parts are lubricated, and a full inspection can be performed on the entire system, including the spring. If this is done annually, your garage door service company can recommend when the spring should be replaced before it breaks on its own. This can save you the inconvenience of having your garage door malfunction at an inopportune time or cause injury or damage when the spring breaks unexpectedly.

Posted on behalf of Habpro
Dacula, GA 30019
(770) 985-3355

SAFE Garage Door Tips For Children

Garage doors can be fascinating for kids; anything that moves up and down at the push of a button can draw their attention. However, garage doors are not toys and can be extremely dangerous to a child. Weighing hundreds of pounds with many moving parts, garage doors can easily become the source of injury to a child if safety precautions are not followed in your home. With summer ahead, many garage doors will be left open while doing home projects, so now is a good time to review some SAFE garage door tips. 

  • Spring inspection. Your garage door springs are one of the most dangerous components of your door system. If the spring breaks unexpectedly while the door is open, it can come crashing down, causing injury. Make sure to have your springs regularly inspected and replaced as needed by a garage door professional.
     
  • Adjust sensors. Your garage door opener most likely has safety laser sensors to ensure that the door does not close on objects below. Adjust your sensors to ensure they are properly aligned and working correctly.
     
  • Fingers need to stay clear. Make sure that children are not touching cables or any parts of the garage door, especially when it is opening or closing. It only takes a second for a finger or hand to get caught and seriously injured.
     
  • Educate children on garage door safety. Kids need to know not to play with or around garage doors. Garage door openers should be at least five feet off the ground; however, the best solution is to keep kids away from playing around garage doors altogether. 

As useful and convenient as a garage door system is, it can be dangerous, especially to kids when safety precautions are not followed. Take the time this spring to have your garage door inspected and tuned-up by your local garage door service professional.

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors