Your garage door consists of many different parts, with the springs being some of the most important. Many modern garage doors use a torsion spring, lasting about 10,000 open and closing cycles. So, if you use your garage door three times a day, your springs will last about 10 years.
Usage is not the only element affecting your springs’ life span. Weather and your maintenance routine can also cause your springs’ life span to shrink. Luckily, there’s an alternative with high cycle springs that allow you to get more out of your garage door.
What Are High Cycle Garage Door Springs?
High cycle garage door springs are an essential part of any garage door system because they hold the entire weight of your garage door and aid in opening and closing. As the garage door lowers, the springs become tightly wound. When you open the garage door, the springs unwind to provide the force to lift the door safely. The two types of garage door springs include:
Extension Springs
An extension spring is on either side of the garage door track and is around two to four feet long. Extension springs extend when the door moves to store the energy needed for opening and closing.
Torsion Springs
A garage door torsion spring mounts to torsion poles parallel to the garage door and uses weight and gravity to gain and release tension when the door is opened and closed. The main difference between an extension spring and a torsion spring is torsion springs twist one way when the door closes and another way when the door opens.
Why Garage Door Springs Break
Garage door springs can break for various reasons, making it essential to perform regular maintenance to identify potential issues before they become significant problems. Some reasons why a garage door spring may break include:
- Excessive use: Opening and closing your garage door multiple times per day creates tension on the spring coils, making them more likely to break.
- Worn out springs: Wear and tear is a common cause of spring breaking. Over time, the springs may become cracked and require repair or replacement to prevent a complete break.
- Corrosion: When you expose springs to excessive moisture, they can become rusty and eventually break.
- Sudden impact or force: Sudden impact, such as something falling on or hitting the door, can cause the springs to break.
- Incorrect installation: If you use the wrong type or size of spring during installation, it can cause the springs to wear down faster and lead to a sudden failure.
- Debris on the tracks: Grime and other debris can accumulate in your door’s track, which can impact the rollers and cause jams, adding stress to the spring. The added stress can shorten the time it takes for wear to accumulate and cause the spring to break.
- Extreme temperature changes: A cold snap or heat wave can put excessive stress on your springs and cause them to expand or contract, which leads them to become brittle and more prone to breaking.
How a High Cycle Garage Door Spring Will Benefit You
When a garage door spring breaks, it can trap your car inside the garage, meaning you could be stuck at home or even unable to get in your house. By upgrading to a high cycle garage door spring, you can double or even quadruple the lifetime of your garage door springs. A longer life span then helps you avoid extensive repairs and maintenance over time.
High cycle springs are particularly useful for anyone who uses their garage doors often, has had to replace springs often or is planning on staying in their current home for many years.
How Garage Door Professionals Can Help With Spring Repairs and Replacement
Torsion springs have a significant amount of force on them. Having the right tools to install and wind the spring is necessary. If you have not been properly trained, replacing or repairing garage door springs yourself could lead to severe and even deadly injuries.
Having the correct spring will also increase the garage door spring life cycle. Professional garage doors installers carry an assortment of springs on their trucks – this way they can put the correct spring on your door without the risk of shortening a spring’s life cycle. Spring issues can easily lead to the garage door suddenly crashing, which can cause significant injuries. Request professional service for spring repairs and replacements so the parts last long while you stay safe.
Contact Best Overhead Door for All of Your Garage Door Spring Needs
For over 30 years, Best Overhead Door has been providing the Portland Metro area, including Tualatin and Tigard, and Vancouver, Washington, areas with garage door repairs and replacement services. Whether you need your long life garage door springs repaired or replaced, our team of specialists looks forward to serving you.
Experience quality, choice and value at Best Overhead Door. Schedule service today.