How Do Garage Door Springs Work?

A garage door spring is one of the most essential pieces of your garage door. Without them, your door wouldn’t be able to raise or lower, and you wouldn’t be able to move your car in and out. There are various different types of springs, but they perform the same primary function that lets you utilize your door daily. 

Keeping your springs clean, maintained and lubricated will help them function correctly for smoother door operation. If you experience trouble with your springs, understanding the spring type and recognizing when they have met the end of their life span can help you get them back to proper function.

What Are Garage Door Springs?

Garage door springs are a vital part of your door system. These pieces counterbalance your door and hold it up, letting you open and close your door with ease. Without springs, your garage door would be useless. Instead of an entrance or exit for your car, you would have an unmoving piece of equipment that can weigh hundreds of pounds. 

A damaged or broken garage spring can also make it challenging to operate your door. Without the proper tension to lift the weight, the other parts of your system must take on much more strain, resulting in further damage. 

Types of Garage Door Springs

There are two primary types of garage door springs, and the type you have determines where you can find them on the door. They both perform the same function and are essential for smooth door operation. Some specific spring variations differ between residential and commercial doors.

Extension Springs

Extension springs are typically above the horizontal tracks or along the sides of the door. These springs contract and stretch to lift and lower the door. If you have an older door, you likely have these springs. Homeowners typically have one extension spring on either side of the door, but some commercial doors may have more than two to counterbalance additional weight. 

These springs can be open-looped, double looped or have clipped ends, with open-looped springs being the easiest to replace and clipped ends springs offering the most extended lifetime of the three. 

Types of extension springs include:

• Sectional: These springs are common in the United States. They stretch above and parallel to your horizontal tracks. The tracks transfer the weight to the cables when you open your door. 
• One-piece: One-piece doors operate as one unit. Extension springs pull against a connection point to raise the door, and the bottom of the door rises outside of the garage. 

Torsion Springs

Torsion springs are typically above the door in a metal shaft. Some doors may house the spring in the shaft, while others have a shaft that passes through the springs. These springs operate by holding and releasing the door’s tension with drums. When you open or close your door, torsion springs unwind and wind accordingly. 

Types of torsion springs include:

• Roll-up: These typically are for small warehouse doors. These doors use curtains to wrap around the drum when the door is lifted. The springs secure the outer-most drum to balance the door. 
• Steel rolling: Torsion springs are inside the barrel of steel rolling doors, where a shaft supports them. You can adjust the tension in these springs to keep them secure using a winding bar.

Industrial and commercial garages typically have multiple torsion springs to account for additional weight. Standard commercial doors have torsion springs in a mixed, triplex, duplex or singular lineup: 

• A singular wider door typically uses a linear system.
• A duplex system has a smaller spring inside the torsion springs.
• Triplex systems have two springs inside the torsion spring.
• Mixed systems are a combination of singular, duplex and triplex formations. 

Garage Door Spring Color Coding System

Garage door guides typically come with a color-coding system to help you understand size measurements. Extension and torsion springs have different colors and meanings, so knowing your type will help you understand the color system. 

Torsion springs use black and red to identify the wind directions and wire size. Red indicates the left wind and black indicates the right. Professionals can usually observe the gauge shape to determine the spring’s condition. Torsion springs also use a color code system to identify the size of the wire. You can find these measurements in inches or millimeters. 

Extension springs have a more in-depth color system to determine lifting power. Your door’s weight affects the springs, and you need to ensure they provide enough power to operate smoothly. The lifting capacity of extension springs in pounds is as follows: 

• Light blue: 190-290
• Gold: 180-280 
• Orange: 170-270 
• Brown: 160-260
• Red: 150-250
• Blue: 140-240
• Yellow: 130-230
• Green: 120-220
• White: 110-210
• Tan: 100-200

How Do Garage Door Springs Work?

Extension springs work with the door’s pulley system to lift. When a door opens, the cables running through the pulleys exert tension. The springs then contract to release tension and lift your door. When you close your door, the springs become fully tensed, ready to release tension when you open it again. The springs can stretch to about half your door’s height to ensure you can lift and lower it without the system exerting too much effort. 

Garage door torsion springs work differently than extension springs. These springs are much thicker than their counterparts, and they work independently. Each torsion spring is measured explicitly for the thickness and size of each door to ensure consistent lowering and lifting. The torsion spring stores energy to operate the door and works with the cables to twist as the door opens. The spring unwinds and releases energy while opening and tightens when the door closes. 

Garage Door Springs Lifetime

Even with the best care, your garage springs won’t last forever. Over the years, they’ll experience wear and tear that will affect how well they perform. You can get many years out of your springs if you keep them well maintained. Without proper lubrication, your springs may break sooner. 

You can usually determine how long your springs will last based on the number of cycles they’ve performed. On average, springs perform around 10,000 cycles, which could last over ten years if you only use your garage once or twice a day. If you operate your door multiple times a day, they may not last as long. 

Ways to maintain your garage door springs include:

• Cleaning debris: Dirt, grime and debris can quickly build up in your garage. This can make it much harder for springs to twist and turn, impeding their function. 
• Lubricating moving pieces: Lubricating springs and other moving parts will help avoid rust and stiffness and prolong their life by keeping them moving correctly. Expect to lubricate your springs about twice a year. 
• Replacing parts: Quickly replace parts any time you notice damage. If your springs have to exert or store more energy than they are meant to, they may snap. 
• Scheduling maintenance: Calling professionals to investigate issues and make necessary repairs ensures your system works properly. 
• Repairing leaks: If your garage is experiencing any leaks, humidity in the air increases, which can create rust on moving parts. Always investigate your garage after heavy rainfall and storms. 
• Avoiding unnecessary use: Large families likely have more than one car in the garage. If your family uses the garage as your primary home entrance, you probably use it more than you need. Limiting use or keeping the door open if multiple people need to leave will help prolong the door spring’s life. 

Signs Your Garage Door Springs Need Attention

If your springs are approaching the end of their lifetime, or you’ve noticed odd behaviors from your door, your springs might need some attention. There is no tell-tale sign that indicates you need to repair or replace your springs, but there are common indications. 

Some common signs your door needs attention are:

• Loud snapping sounds.
• Slow opening times.
• Sudden or jerky door operation.
• An unbalanced door.
• Snapped cables.
• Gaps in the springs.
• Loud banging noises.
• Your door stops mid-operation.
• The door snaps shut when you close it.
• You can’t open your door at all.

Many of these problems you experience could also be signs your door has another underlying issue. Garage doors have many moving parts, all of which ensure smooth operation. Strange noises and jerky movement can result from worn rollers and hinges. Your tracks may also be bent, or some screws may be missing, making your door appear off balance. A professional will be able to identify the problem quickly.

What to Do When Your Garage Door Springs Go Bad

You may need to rebalance your springs within the first few years of having them. When your doors are opening, check to see if there is movement. Slight movement is normal, but if one of your bottom rollers moves past the tracks and stays there, you must re-tension your springs. For s second test, open the door halfway so it is suspended in mid-air. You have a spring problem if the door slams shut or snaps open. 

It’s always a good idea to replace both springs when one breaks. After one goes, the other is likely to follow soon after. Since the springs have performed the same number of cycles, you won’t be able to get much more use out of the remaining spring, and you will have to call for another service to replace it. Additionally, replacing only one spring can cause the door to go off balance. 

If you need repairs or replacements for your springs, it is always best to contact a professional to reduce the chance of injuring yourself or others. Broken springs can be very dangerous and puncture nearby people or objects in the nearby area. You should never operate your door if your springs have snapped or broken. 

Why You Should Call a Professional For Repairs

When you have trouble with your springs, it is always better to call a professional rather than try to install, repair or replace them yourself. Your door may weigh hundreds of pounds, and if your springs can no longer support it, it can snap shut and crush anything underneath it. 

Additionally, broken springs can become projectiles. With so much stored energy and tension, when these pieces snap, their energy causes them to fly through the air without direction. Objects inside your garage can become punctured, including yourself. It’s possible to break fingers or crush feet when working on a garage door if you don’t know what you’re doing. 

Finding the correct replacement springs can also be a challenge. Because springs have an in-depth color-coding system, it’s crucial to refer to these to find the right wire size that can hold your door. Locating and installing the correct spring is much easier with the help of a professional. Professionals can also calibrate your springs to ensure they can maneuver the door up and down, eliminating jerky movements that can damage tracks and other parts, costing more in the long run. 

If you try to repair or replace your springs yourself, you will first have to be sure you have the proper tools. If you don’t, you’ll have to buy them and find a place to store them afterward. Professionals already have an arsenal of tools to tackle your problem. Additionally, if you use the wrong pieces or install parts incorrectly, you may end up breaking other door parts and costing yourself a more significant expense in the future.

Schedule a Service With Continental Door

Continental Door repairs, sells, installs and replaces garage door springs for homeowners and commercial organizations in the Spokane, Washington area. We have over 15 years of experience in the industry, and we take pride in our work. We have been offering the highest quality in the industry since 2001, tackling each unique problem with individualized solutions and creativity to fit your budget and meet your needs. 

We know how important your garage door is for your productivity and efficiency. Your door should make your life easier, not harder. Continental Door is your one-stop shop for garage door solutions, so you can get your door running in no time. 

Our growing team meets every client with professionalism and dedication. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we want to help you get the most from your garage door. Keeping your springs in good condition is essential for your door to lift and lower smoothly, and we know how to fix or replace them quickly so you can get back to your day without interruptions. 

You can easily request an estimate or schedule a service with us. For more information about our services, contact us online or give us a call at 509-921-2260.