Commercial and residential garage doors undergo a lot of use. As a point of entry, your doors move several times a day — until they don’t. Broken garage door springs are one of the most common repairs, and the correct solution depends on your door’s unique spring type and wear.
Types of Garage Door Springs
Garage doors operate with either torsion springs or extension springs.
Torsion springs are more popular for their strength and durability. They use torque — a coiling motion that produces rotation — to move the doors up and down.
You’ll find heavy-duty extension springs in areas with low overhead clearance where torsion springs may not fit. Extension springs open the door by extending and supporting the door with offsetting force. The higher the door opens, the greater the extension and force on the springs, so they pair with cables for extra safety.
Signs to Replace Your Garage Door Springs
The clearest sign your garage door springs need replacement is a broken spring. You can be proactive and identify issues before breakage occurs. Fortunately, there are ways to know a spring replacement is nearing:
- Your door is out-of-balance: An unbalanced door may struggle, slam down or be noisy. Balance issues may not indicate worn springs, yet they can create a premature breakdown.
- Your door is squeaking: If your garage door grumbles and squeaks, it’s time for a professional evaluation.
- Your door is visibly misaligned: Doors that don’t completely close, appear cockeyed or move inconsistently between sides may indicate spring damage.
Continental Door’s Garage Door Spring Replacement Services in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene
As a homeowner, you depend on a functional garage door to run errands or get to work. Organizations need usable garage doors to prevent extended downtime.
Continental Door repairs worn garage door springs at homes and businesses throughout the Inland Northwest with a service team that boasts the quickest response time in the area. You can count on us for speedy repairs for your residence. We also offer rapid overhead door repair to business owners to keep operations going.
Emergency Garage Door Spring Replacement
When your home or business needs emergency garage spring repair to get you up and running again, count on the Continental Door team. Our technicians serve you around the clock to keep customers moving. We employ a full-time team with significant industry knowledge on springs of all types. They also have a deep dedication to providing a first-class customer service experience any time of the day or night.
Get the Right Repair Quickly With Continental Doors
At Continental Door Co., our team has the expertise and tools to make your repairs swiftly and correctly. We have the fastest response of any garage door service provider in the greater Inland Northwest to prevent delays and save you time and money. With an extensive parts inventory, more than two decades of experience and 24/7 service, Continental Door is the clear solution to any garage door repair challenge.
Contact a friendly Continental Door family member today for spring service or replacement in the greater Spokane area. Schedule service below:
Garage Door Spring Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions about garage door springs, Continental Door, Co. can answer them. Here are five of the most frequently asked questions.
What type of garage door spring do I have?
Both residential and commercial garage doors typically feature extension springs or torsion springs. Both varieties counterbalance your overhead door’s weight, enabling it to open and close.
To determine which type of spring your door has, check where the spring is located and how it seems to work with your door. Typically, tension springs are large, shafted springs located over your door. Extension springs are smaller and install along the sides or above the horizontal tracks.
If you’re unsure which springs you have, contact our team at Continental Door for help.
What is the difference between extension springs and torsion springs?
The primary differences between torsion and extension springs are their location and how they work with your garage door. Each spring changes shape to act as a counterbalance, but they do so in different ways.
Torsion springs are usually mounted in a shaft on the wall above your garage door. These springs help raise and lower your door by winding and unwinding. Extension springs are installed on either side of your garage door or above its horizontal tracks. They extend and contract to open and close the overhead door.
How do you know what size spring you need for a garage door?
There are few ways to determine what size springs you need. If your garage door seemed balanced and functional before your spring malfunctioned, you can measure your old spring or look for markings with its size. Spring measurements should include the length of the spring, the inside diameter and the wire width.
If your old spring worked poorly, you can determine what size you need by weighing your door and consulting a professional like the ones at Continental Door. We have years of experience matching doors with the appropriate size springs. Enlisting help is safer than figuring it out yourself.
What weight garage door springs do I need?
Because your garage door spring must counterbalance its weight, your spring’s lift weight should match your door’s weight. If your door weighs 100 pounds, your spring should offer 100 pounds of lift.
The best ways to determine what weight garage door springs you need are to check your old springs for specifications or to weigh your door. You can place an analog scale underneath your door to determine its weight.
When should garage door springs be replaced?
Standard garage door springs, including torsion and extension springs, support about 10,000 opening and closing cycles. For the average homeowner, this figure translates to about seven years of use.
Check your springs monthly to ensure they’re in good shape. If you see any visible wear or separation or suspect your springs are struggling, call us to check them out for you.
Let Us Service Your Coeur d’Alene and Spokane Garage Door Springs
Garage door springs are under a substantial amount of tension, and only trained professionals should replace them. Continental Door can service your garage door springs if you live in the Coeur d’Alene or Greater Spokane area. Complete this form to schedule service or call us with questions.