contact
contact
If you are like the majority of homeowners, you have probably experienced challenges choosing the right size of garage door springs. Selecting the wrong spring size can cause significant damage to your door or put you or any other user at risk. Fortunately, there are several steps you can use to help you identify the right size.
We have prepared a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about the type and size of springs and how to choose your ideal option. We will also provide you with some tips on the best option to choose.
The weight is the most important thing you need to know before choosing your desired spring. You can approximate the weight by contacting your service company or using a bathroom scale. When using the scale, weigh everything, including the rollers, hinges, and struts.
Once you know the weight, determine if it needs extension or torsion springs. It will require you to measure the diameter of the existing springs. Normally, the measurements will be printed on the spring, but you can always take the measurement manually.
The most common spring size or tension or extension springs is 728. The first 700 represents the wire gauge, while 28 is the length of the spring. You will also find heavy-duty springs with up to 900.
Start by closing your garage door and use a measuring tape to measure the spring end to end. If you use the traditional 7-foot garage doors, you will likely need a 25-inch spring. The next step will be to measure the weight of your garage door. Disconnect power to your garage door opener and the operator's arm.
After doing so, disengage the operator's pin and lower the door to the ground. Use a bathroom scale to take measurements by sliding it under the door. The majority of garage doors fall around 110 to 150 pounds. With the measurements, getting the ideal extension spring for your door will be possible.
Note that when measuring the size of the spring, avoid expanding it during measurement. Weighing the door should also not be done alone. Have a friend to help you lift and take multiple measurements.
Similar to compression springs, you will need to take measurements on the old springs as well as the weight of the garage door. If the measurements are not indicated on the coil, count around 20 coils and measure the length from the tip to the end. And then, any measurement you take will be divided by 20 to get the diameter of the spring.
Most torsion springs fall 5 inches long and 1 ½ inches in diameter. The inside diameter measurement is the easiest to measure. You can find numbers like P-200, which indicates the spring has a two-inch diameter.
It is critical to ensure you get the precise measurements as any more than ¾ of an inch can lead to ordering an incompatible garage door spring.
Extension springs are the most popular, but over time, torsion springs are gaining popularity and are used in most garage doors today. There are some situations when extension springs are recommended, such as when you need your door to have low headroom.
One of the main reasons for torsion springs' popularity growth is their durability and longer lifespan. Compared to extension springs, torsion springs are a better investment. They last up to 20,000 cycles, while extension springs last around 10,000.
Besides, they also have a smoother operation, and you rarely experience issues such as jerk or jolt when opening or closing. Switching to a torsion spring is possible for those using an extension spring. You only need to contact an experienced technician to help you replace it.
While most people credit garage door openers for opening and closing their garage doors, the opener would be useless without the door springs. The above tips will help you choose the right spring door size and ensure you avoid accidents caused by installing the wrong spring.
Like the article? Check out our blog for more exciting content, and let's ensure you remain updated with the latest on garage doors and springs.
