A garage is an essential part of a home. A garage door plays a critical role in keeping the essentials inside the room safe and protected. That is why everyone should get one from Chris’ Garage Doors Denver. All garage doors have springs, but you may not know what they are or why they are installed on the door. That is why this article will guide you better on the subject of garage door springs.
Definition of Garage Door Springs
In simple terms, garage door springs are much like any other spring out there – just a piece of coiled metal. Nonetheless, garage door springs come in two different types, which are torsion and extension. The two may have similar appearances, but the difference comes in their functioning. The functioning of torsion springs is by twisting, while that of extension spring is by expanding and retracting. Besides the functionality, you should also note that the key players in the construction industry prefer the installation of torsion springs to extended springs.
This means it is recommendable for any new garage door to have torsion springs. Additionally, any renovations done on old doors should include removing extension springs and installing torsion springs. The main reason for this is that torsion springs are more secure since they are wrapped around a sturdy bar above the garage door. On the other hand, extension springs are installed on both sides of the upper track. Safety cables should be used to secure extension springs, but unfortunately, this is not adhered to by many people. This makes such springs unsafe even for the garage owner.
What Is Their Purpose?
The work of garage door springs is not as complicated as it may sound. Generally, without these parts, the garage door openers would not function as required. You should know that the springs are the ones that help the opener to lift the door, which could weigh a few hundred pounds. The springs play a pivotal role in ensuring that the door opens and closes smoothly. This is why you need to understand how they function, which can help you identify an issue as soon as possible and hire an expert to fix it.
As mentioned above, torsion springs function by twisting and extending springs by expanding and compressing. As these components do that, they offer a counterbalance, which plays a significant role in supporting the door’s weight. Sometimes, it can be challenging to understand the type of spring on your garage door. However, there are several things to check to ensure you identify whether it is a torsion or an extension spring installed on your door. If you realize that the springs run on both sides of the garage, are connected to pulleys, and their ends form loops, you have extension springs on your door. If you see that the spring is directly above the door, it is a torsion spring.
Understanding about springs and other components of your garage door is crucial. You may have professionals to help you fix broken springs, but they will not always be around to identify any issue for you. That is why you are encouraged to learn more about these parts.
