For your garage door to move smoothly, to open and close in a controlled manner, it requires a counter balance. The springs on your door provide that. There are two types of garage door springs used for this purpose.
Extension springs are mounted to the sides of your garage door opening and run along the rack that the door runs on, one on each side. Extension springs perform as the name implies – they extend and contract. Extension springs are less expensive but you get what you pay for.
Extension springs have more moving parts. More parts mean more things that can break and require repair. That lends itself to more ongoing costs to keep these garage door springs working. Extension springs are rated to perform for ten thousand cycles. As they wear down, the springs may not pull evenly. Then you will see you garage door moving crookedly until it reaches its end point open or closed. Think of the way window blinds move when the draw cords aren’t properly balanced.
Torsion springs are more common. They’re more expensive but they hold value in terms of maintenance and longevity. This type of garage door spring is mounted just above the garage door opening. Torsion garage door springs work are wound to create the tension needed to counterbalance the door movement.
Because of this, they’re less likely to move the garage door unevenly. Unlike the extension spring, you can also upgrade torsion springs for your garage door, providing twenty-thousand cycles instead of just ten. That’s twice as many times you can open and close your garage door.
Safety is the biggest factor between these two types of garage door springs. Sometimes springs break. When that happens, the risks involved vary greatly between torsion and extension springs. Since the torsion spring slides over a metal shaft that it is wound around, if it breaks, it stays in line with the shaft. The energy released from the break is controlled.
Extension springs tend to break under the greatest amount of tension, which is when they are extended the fullest. The sudden release of that tension works like a rubber band that is stretched and released. It can turn into a projectile. Who wants a large metal spring flying around their garage?
Extension garage door springs provide a less expensive means of opening your garage door smoothly. If you are searching for a garage door opener, consider the torsion spring. It will require less maintenance while providing for a longer life span and greater safety. The greater value balances out the up-front cost for your garage door and may cost less in the long run.
