contact
contact
Garages are one of the most important structures in any home. If you own a car or a lawn mower you can’t keep in the main house, you will agree with me that these structures are critical. They help keep our vehicles and other things safe and away from the house.
A common problem with garages is doors that won’t open or close. Depending on how often you open your door, your springs can wear out after some time. But how do you find the best spring to replace them?
Read on for a detailed insight into the different types of door springs and their function.
There are two types of garage door springs. You can either choose to go with extension springs or torsion springs.
Extension springs are made of light materials and are generally small and easy to pull. They are placed on the garage door tracks, between the ceiling, and perpendicular to the door. Technically, their main function is to store energy when the door closes and release it when it opens.
They can further be divided into:
· Open looped- They are smaller and do not need to be disassembled
· Double looped- As the name suggests, the springs have two coils at the ends and are much tougher than the open looped
· The clip ends- They have a longer lifespan and are the toughest extension springs
The best method to help you purchase the ideal type of spring that needs replacement is to understand the function of the above springs.
Unlike extension springs, torsion springs are much heavier and stiffer. They are almost the opposite of extension springs. They are tightly coiled to store and release energy generated when the door closes and opens. The springs coil when the door closes and uncoil to release energy when the door opens.
There are four types of torsion springs. You can either choose to go with torque master or the standard types.
· Torque Master - The torque master is considered the safest because the springs remain in place. They are placed inside a torsion shaft and are supported by a winding cone.
· Standard torsion spring - The standard option is mostly used in residential doors and is cheaper than the torque master. They are located above the garage door, and one or two springs should be enough to provide enough support.
· Steel rolling torsion spring - These springs are commonly used in commercial buildings and are set within the torsion barrel providing support to a sliding or rolling door.
· Early set torsion springs- These springs are placed at the center of a torsion shaft. However, different hardware is needed to support the shaft and cable drums.
Unlike extension springs, the force applied to each torsion spring is equally distributed to the garage shaft and drums. For this reason, the cables holding the doors will spin at the same rate you open the door.
Both doors are great. All you need to do to understand the type of door you want for your garage. Extension spring doors are the less expensive option and are mostly used in residential properties. However, they are not long-lasting as compared to torsion springs.
Torsion springs are also safer and have fewer parts than extension springs. They also have a smooth opening and closing operation but will require a bigger force to open or close the doors. Because of their long-lasting materials and seamless functionality, your initial investment will be higher than installing extension spring doors.
It would be best to consider a few factors when shopping for your ideal garage door spring. Start by checking the weight and size of your doors to help you purchase the best spring. You can get an accurate size by measuring the size of the old spring you want to replace. The weight should be easy to approximate with your eyes.
You can also measure the weight and height of your garage door using a bathroom scale and some clamps. Support the door with clamps and carefully remove the springs. Place the edge of the door on the scale to weigh. The weight on the scale should help you purchase the right spring.
Knowing the right spring to replace your broken or worn-out garage door springs is critical. There are two types of garage door springs. You can either choose to go with torsion or extension springs. However, you need to measure the overall length, wire size, wind direction, and inside diameter to help you purchase the ideal garage door spring.
Contact us for a free consultation or hire a professional to replace your compression or torsion garage door springs.
Torsion and extension springs are essential for your garage door system because they help balance your garage door's weight, helping it close and open smoothly. As such, garage door systems will malfunction if the spring breaks or develops an issue. This can cause significant damage to the system or create a safety hazard.
Thus, it pays to understand different types of garage door systems and their subsequent color-coding system.
Let's look into the different garage door color coding systems; however, we'll begin by discussing the types of springs used, including extension and torsion springs.
These are the most prevalent garage door spring types and work by coiling or twisting around a metal shaft above the garage door.
The springs have a longer lifespan, are safer, and are more efficient than extension springs. They also come in varying sizes to accommodate different loads; however, they are difficult to repair and install and require specialized knowledge and tools.
These work by extending or stretching when opening the garage door. They are less expensive than torsion springs and are installed in smaller garage door systems.
Regardless, they are less durable and stable and are dangerous when they malfunction or break. For instance, they can whip around and cause injury or cause damage when they break.
Let's look at extension springs color coding now that you understand more about garage door springs. The color codes may be a little confusing; however, having a list of extension spring color codes helps you understand the colors better.
Color coding helps professionals who repair your garage door determine how much lifting power the system requires. This information is important since different doors have varying weights, and you'll need an extension spring with the appropriate torque. Here are extension spring color codes and the weight they can lift.
Extension springs that extend beyond 190 pounds have a repeating color code in that 200 is coded with a tan color, 210 with a white color, 220 with a green color, etc. Additionally, you should understand that extension springs aren't as efficient as torsion springs, and you should purchase a durable spring from a reliable supplier to get the best results.
Torsion springs color coding system
Torsion springs have different color coding than extension springs. Torsion spring's color coding helps professionals understand whether the springs are 'left winded' (red) or 'right winded' (black). Additionally, torsion springs are coded to indicate the spring's thickness. This helps technicians quickly understand what springs to replace in your garage door system.
Additionally, torsion springs have a straight line that helps technicians understand the spring's state. "Charging" the spring distorts the line allowing technicians to determine how tightly the wound the spring is.
Understanding garage springs' color coding helps technicians understand which springs suit your garage door. However, you should also understand that the two types of springs are coded differently. Ultimately, it helps to request the services of a licensed technician if you don't feel confident selecting the right type of spring for your garage door.
Your automatic garage door operates using either torsion or side-mounted springs. These ensure that you open and close your door with the touch of a button. To keep them effective, you need to carry out regular checks. You might also have to adjust them if they get loose. Here is how you go about adjusting your garage door springs.
Before you get started on the door, ensure you have the right tools. Not only will they make your work easier, but they’ll also ensure you don’t get hurt in the process. These are some of the tools you will need:
Here is how you adjust your side-mounted springs
You need to relieve all the tension in the springs to work on them. The only easy to do this is to ensure you open it to the end. Once you are sure your door is open to the end, pull the emergency code until your door stays jammed in the open position. That way, there will be no accidents when working on it.
With the door fully open, all that’s left is to execute it using your clamp. Place your clamp below the roller, holding it as you work on the spring.
You must first detach your spring hook to start working on your springs. Ensure you detach the end responsible for the tension in the spring. Removing the spring hook on this end allows you to move it around to increase or decrease the tension on the hoop.
With the spring off the hook, you can now adjust it accordingly. If the door does not close fully, you need to decrease the tension in the spring. Conversely, if your door closes too fast, you need to increase the tension.
Another thing you need to remember to do is to adjust the tension on the safety cables. It goes a long way to ensure that the tension on the springs holds. You can increase the tension by shortening the cable and decreasing it by making it longer. Ensure you do this every time you adjust your springs.
Once this is all done, lubricate the springs and the rest of the door. Ensure it opens and closes smoothly and closes down.
Regarding torsion springs, you will prep them as you did for the side-mounted springs. Once you have the clamps, you will move on to these steps.
It might take a while to see where your spring ends, but ensure you find it. The end of the spring is where the winding cone of the spring is found.
Your winding core comes with two sets of screws used to lock the spring in shape. Find these screws and loosen them up. Use your wrench to make this easier.
Once the screws are loosened, wind the cone in or out to the possession or tighten the spring. The choice to tighten or loosen the cone will depend on how your door behaves.
With the cone tightness, stretch the spring to fit the length of the cone. You will need to mark the spring and then apply a force from below so your spring can get to the required length.
Once you have the spring in place, all that is left is for you to get the screws tightened. Ensure you get this tension right, as it will determine how long your door will maintain the tension on them.
With everything done, all left is for you to test and then lubricate the springs out your door. Repeat the steps above if it has an issue until you get it right.
The kind of tension you have in your springs will determine how functional your door will be. The one thing you need to remember is to be careful when working on the springs. They might snap and hurt you if you are not careful. Wear your goggles and keep your gloves on at all times. When it comes to adjusting the tension, do so slowly. You might need to adjust it several times, but it is better than increasing or decreasing it too much.
Adjusting your garage door spring is something you need to do occasionally. It ensures everything works perfectly and prevents accidents with your door. Follow these steps and see the difference it makes to how efficiently you can open and close the doors.
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.
Is your garage door noisy, faulty, or broken? Ensuring it operates at its top-notch condition should be critical not only for security purposes but also for peace of mind. The last thing you want for your garage is a door with faulty springs. They can completely fail the more you strain them and might eventually bring down your garage door.
But how do you identify broken springs to enable you to repair them before they become a disaster? All you need to do is troubleshoot your door springs occasionally. Read on for a detailed insight into how to troubleshoot your garage door springs in the shortest time possible.
Let’s delve in!
First things first! Before troubleshooting, you need to be sure your garage door uses springs. There are two main types of springs used in garage doors. You can either find torsion or extension springs. Torsion springs are located across the top of the door, while extension springs are on either side.
If your garage door uses a lift system, you will find them at the top. Technically, to lift the door, the springs apply a twisting force to the drums at the end, which, as a result, pulls the cables connected on both sides of the door. Most large doors have two springs, with the small doors having only one spring.
So, how do you know if your garage door spring is broken? You can use two main ways to identify if you have a problem. Firstly, if you are lucky to be around when the spring is breaking, you will hear a loud pop akin to that of a firecracker.
Secondly, if your opener motor is working, but the door won’t open, or you hear the springs straining to lift the door, your springs are highly likely to break.
Remember the firecracker sound we talked about? That was the sound of a spring snapping and releasing lots of energy. For safety purposes, it is recommended to ensure you follow the required troubleshooting steps to avoid risking injury from the spring or the door falling. Here is a highlight of the required steps:
Before doing anything, you should start by locking down the door with a C-clamp or pliers. It will prevent the door from opening up and injuring you in the process. You should also unplug the door opener and yank the door before doing any repairs.
Also, wear the recommended safety gear, such as leather gloves and eye protection, throughout the replacement project.
Insert the winding bar into the holes of the winding cones and hold the bars in place as you loosen the setscrews. Note that the spring will push with a bigger force as it releases, making it necessary to ensure you hang on tight.
Remove all the nuts and bolts used to fasten the spring and slide down the springs towards the ends. You can use a C-clamp or locking pliers to hold the torsion springs in the tube bracket before loosening the screws.
Slide the torsion bar to the left on the center bearing and install the spring on the right. After doing so, push the bearing towards the stationary cone and reinstall the drum.
Replacing all the old and rusted parts before you can install new springs is recommended. Get your new lift cable and loop it over the new bottom bracket. Swap in the new cables and bottom brackets, then insert the new roller.
Run the cables between the rollers and slide the lift cable through the drums. Tighten the drums and wind the tension springs.
Stretch the springs one-half to three-quarters turn and finish by running tests to ensure the door is in top-notch condition.
It is almost impossible to open garage doors without the springs. The springs act as a counterbalance with the openers, allowing the garage door to close or open according to your will.
And now that you know how to troubleshoot and repair them, it will be possible to attempt to fix them. Alternatively, you can always contact a professional if it proves to be challenging.
At GL Metal, we are your one-stop solution for all your springs and garage door needs. Contact us today, and let us get your garage the right spring.
