How Garage Door Springs Work?

Have you ever wondered how garage door springs work? Maybe you’re planning to replace a garage door spring and want to have a better understanding of how they work before you start taking things apart?
As the best-rated garage door repair company in Calgary, we want to educate homeowners and help them better understand how garage door springs work. However, always remember that springs can be deadly, and you should always be extremely careful handling them. So keep reading, and we’ll provide you with the basic knowledge you need regarding residential garage door springs.

Wondering How Torsion Garage Door Springs Work?

Torsion garage door springs produce a twisting force known as “torque.” The torque transmits through a metal shaft to cable drums located on both sides of the garage door. From there, it is converted from the rotational to a linear force, creating tension on the cables. The cables are connected to the bottom brackets of the first panel, applying a pulling force in the upwards direction. They pull on each side of the door evenly, keeping the door level during the operation.

When garage door sections transition from the upwards movement to the horizontal, the force required to open the door diminishes. The springs unwind and have almost no tension when the door is completely open.
Each torsion spring has two cones. One is bolted to a central bracket which is anchored to a spring pad. The other – winding cone is used to wind up the spring and secure it to the shaft with a pair of set screws.

Garage door springs, shaft, drums, and cables, form a counterbalance assembly whose job is to counteract the force of gravity that wants to keep your garage door shut. All torsion system components working together allow anyone to lift a two hundred pound garage door with little to no effort.

Difference Between Torsion and Extension Springs.

Garage doors powered by extension springs have a different design. Extension springs provide a pulling force instead of a twisting force. The Spring is connected to a cable that’s attached to the bottom bracket on each side of the door. This design is missing the shaft and drums and is a far less common spring system nowadays. The torsion garage door spring system is much more common and offers a safer operation than extension springs. The torsion spring counterbalance system is also easier to adjust if needed.

How Does A Garage Door Work?

A typical residential garage door consists of several sections or garage door panels that sit on top of each other. The sections are held together by hinges, and the rollers allow travel within vertical and horizontal tracks.

Torsion cables connect to the bottom bracket on each side of the door and effectively only pull up the bottom section, which pushes up all the rest. Eventually, all the sections transition from the vertical to horizontal tracks while the torsion springs provide their force.

The springs unwind while the door opens up and rewind when the door closes. That means that the most amount of tension on your springs and cables exists when the garage door is fully closed. This fact explains why garage door springs and cables often break when the garage door is closed or while it is closing. This simple yet very effective design allows for seamless operation and offers a convenient and reliable garage door experience if coupled with a garage door opener.

The Dangers Of Garage Door Springs.

You’ve probably heard that garage door springs are often called “The Widow Makers.” Unfortunately, there’s a good reason for that. The amount of force stored in both torsion and extension springs is enough to cause critical injury or even death. Therefore, if you’re wondering how garage door springs work intending to get them replaced by yourself, you need to think twice. Make sure you have the right tools and knowledge before replacing your springs. It is always wise to hire a local garage door repair professional to get your springs replaced for you. Generally speaking, extension springs are more dangerous than torsion springs. It has a lot to do with the actual location of the springs. Extension springs are often anchored in a way that may be less safe than torsion springs, which may put your family members in danger. If you’re buying a new garage door, make sure your garage door installer places the extension springs so that no one can get in contact with them.