Everything You Need to Know About Torsion Springs
What are Torsion Springs in a Garage Door?
Torsion springs are what make it possible to open and close your garage door. Therefore, it’s essential to be familiar with what they are, how they work, and when you may need garage door repair services for a broken spring.
What Are They?
Torsion springs are placed on the pulley wheel of your garage door, and they’re designed to tighten when the garage door is raised. As the door is lowered, this tension is released. The force is transferred into the wheels of the garage door, which makes it easier for you to guide the door down the track.
There are significant differences among products in terms of the amount of tension that can be stored in the springs, the material that they are made from, and the specific system that they are designed for. That is why it is important to choose a replacement that is designed for your specific garage door system.
What Are They Made From?
Torsion springs are made from dense materials, which allow them to store more energy than conventional springs. While multiple types of materials are used in garage door openers, they all fall into one of a few main categories. In most cases, the spring will be made from stainless steel. This is considered to be one of the best materials for a garage door torsion spring. However, the springs can also be made from any of the following materials:
Non-steel Alloys
Chrome Vanadium
Chrome Silicon
Titanium
Beryllium Copper
Phosphor Bronze
How Many Times Can a Torsion Spring Be Used?
The average torsion spring will last around 10,000 uses. However, this will vary significantly from one product to another. It’s important to be familiar with the signs of torsion spring failure. These are a few things that you’ll notice if the spring is failing:
In some cases, there will be squealing or groaning sounds coming from the spring. This is a very strong sign that it could fail very soon.
The door will not open and close at the same speed each time.
The door may open only a few inches due to a safety mechanism that keeps it from going up and down more than a few inches if the weight is not distributed correctly.
If the spring has failed, you will hear a loud popping sound.
If your garage door spring has broken or is on the verge of failure, be sure to contact Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors, Inc. to get it repaired or replaced right away.