Learn When to Replace or Repair Your Garage Door Spring

Your garage door is surely one of the hardest working mechanisms in your house. Just think about how often you open and close it. For a lot of homeowners, their garage door serves as the real front door.

But all the heavy usage inescapably results in wear & tear to your garage door and hardware. Some of the crucial components will break down sooner or later, and there is a reasonable probability that your garage door spring will be the first one to go.

Now, what you should keep in mind is that garage door springs are hazardous when they snap.

 Why? You may ask, here is the answer: when closed, the garage door torsion spring is fully wound and under an immense amount of tension if it would break all this tension would release at once and can the energy can be hazardous. If the spring would break when open, the door can slam down without nothing preventing the drop. This can cause damage to the garage door itself property or cause severe injuries to household members and pets. There is no accurate way to tell when spring would break unless you have a cycle counter or a feature built-in your garage door opener. This is more common in commercial openers.

 Signs your torsion springs are failing :

 There is a simple way to get a general idea on the condition your garage door springs are in

Disengage from the automatic garage door opener. Disengaging can be done by pulling the red cord that is hanging from the traveler. Lift it manually to the half-open position. And let it go if it holds your springs are still good, or at least the door is balanced if it falls or goes up on its own the springs are failing or the wrong size, it is recommended to call the garage door professionals to for an obligation free service call.

 Garage door spring replacement is not a DIY task as the springs are under a lot of tension enough to lift an average 300-600 lbs garage door that can cause a serious injury or even death. Without the knowledge or proper tools or parts, this can end badly or take a lot of time and unnecessary trips to the hardware store for tools, and you can end up with the wrong size springs.

This is why a garage door spring replacement in the Vancouver metro area should be left for the experts such as Titan Garage Doors.

We have trained techs, high-quality springs, attention to detail and warranty on parts and labour.

Contact us today at 604-313-0108 if you have an emergency or for future garage door service.

We cover the areas including Vancouver, Burnaby, West Vancouver, Fort Langley, Abbotsford, North Vancouver, Delta, Maple Ridge, Mission, Richmond, White Rock, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Surrey and New Westminster.

Torsion vs Extension Spring – What Are the Differences

Being a homeowner, you have possibly never researched the components of your garage door, but you have most probably heard of torsion or extension springs. These are 2 different kinds of springs that are used for powering your overhead door’s counterbalance system. The counterbalance systems employ forces to offset the weight of the door, letting it lift and lower the garage door in a safe manner. there are 2 main options torsion springs and extension springs.

So, what is the difference between torsion and extension springs? Let Titan Garage Doors explain in detail. 

Torsion Springs:                     

Torsion springs are perhaps the most popular & modern overhead door spring option available today. They come in different sizes & lengths that are calculated based on your garage door weight and height and track radius. They are the large coiled springs located on top of the garage door, and when they operate, they wind when lowering the garage door and unwind when lifting the garage door.

Advantages of torsion springs include:

• Sturdier & long-lasting: While torsion springs are more expensive compared to their extension counterparts, they’re more durable & last 10,000-100,000 + cycles. 
• Even lift- The torsion springs are installed on the torsion tube and turn the cable drums and cables. The torque released, providing an even force on both sides. Extension springs are individual which provide the lifting force on each side, meaning if one spring is worn out the pull on that side will be weaker!
• Safer: when the overhead door springs break down, the torsion spring will unwinde and make a loud bang noise but will stay on the torsion shaft, while extension spring breaks down and snaps in half and will dislodge and might hit a family member or your belonging causing damage or injury 

Extension Springs:

extension springs are older kind, but they are still a common choice for many garage doors since they are not as expensive in comparison to torsion springs and are a perfect option for small garages with low headroom. They don’t take headroom space since they’re fitted on the sides of the door.

While deciding, extension springs are not recommended by professionals since they are rated at 10,000 cycles and lack the safety features that torsion springs provide. In spite of these cons, extension springs are usually safe when the safety cables are equipped, and they’re maintained properly. 

Whether your garage door utilizes extension or torsion spring, Titan Garage Doors is here to make sure your garage door is safe and functioning to the highest standard. We also do torsion or extension spring conversion as a part of our complete garage door solutions. Remember that springs are one of the most dangerous parts of any garage door, so don’t try to repair or replace them on your own. Always look for a professional garage door technician and stay safe.