Find The Type of Garage Door Spring Do You Have

Find The Type of Garage Door Spring Do You Have

In this article you will learn how to find the type of garage door spring you have, how to measure them and how to inspect them for any damage that requires repair.

Garage doors are the most used item in the house. The constant cycle of opening and closing the garage door on daily basis can put a toll on its springs. It is necessary to inspect the garage door springs to note any damages that need repair.

Signs of a broken garage door spring:

  • An increased gap between the coils
  • Damage in the case
  • Loose springs

It is not advisable to continually use a garage door having a damaged spring because this can cause more harm in the long run. It makes the door opener work harder and this can be damaging to the machine. When the opener wears out, its repair or replacement can result in higher expenses as compared to replacing the door springs.

When there is a need to change the springs, the most important thing you need to do is to determine the type of garage door spring you have. Each type has different approaches in repair. There are also many types of garage door spring available in the market today but the most common among them is the Torsion spring type and Extension Spring Type.

Torsion Springs vs Extension Springs

The easiest way to tell the type of spring that you have on your garage door is to note its location. The Torsion springs are what is usually used to install new garage doors nowadays. These are located at the upper middle part of the garage door. On the other hand, the extension springs are placed parallel to the garage door with one spring attached to each side.

If you want to find out if you have the torsion type, close the garage door and look above it at the upper middle part. If you notice that you have a spring from the middle that runs towards the sides, you have the torsion spring type. Always make it a habit to check for any breaks, loose coils, or increased gaps to address any repair issues at their earliest state.

You will also know if you have a torsion spring by the sound it makes when it breaks. Because it has a high tension in its coil, there is usually a loud bang that can be heard when it snaps, which is similar to a gunshot.

On the other hand, garage doors having the extension type are placed parallel to the door. When the garage doors are closed, they can be easily spotted along the tracks. The springs of the extension type are suspended above the tracks on both sides of the door.

Torsion Spring

Garage Door Torsion Spring

How to determine the size of the Torsion Garage Door Spring

To determine the size of the torsion spring, you need to determine the following measurements and characteristics: diameter of the wire, its inside diameter, its length, and its coil direction.

You need the following materials to measure the diameter of the wire: a broken torsion spring, a tape measure, and a calculator. Using the broken spring, count 20 coils and measure the distance from the first coil to the 20th coil using the tape measure in inches. After doing so, divide the total distance by 20 to determine the diameter. Usually, the distance of 20 coils is 5 inches but it’s better if you measure it by hand to have an exact measurement to prevent ordering the wrong size.

You don’t need to measure anything when you want to know the inside diameter of the spring because it is already written on its cones. These cones are metals that are attached to the spring and can be winding or stationary. The inside diameter is usually written in an alphanumeric format. It is preceded by one or two letters followed by a number. For example, P-200 may mean that the inside diameter is two inches. Some manufacturers will immediately place the exact measurement of the inside diameter in inches.

Measuring the spring length is easy. You just need to run the tape measure in the entire length of the broken spring. You need to remember that there is at least a three-fourths difference between your measurement and actual spring length.

Lastly, to determine the direction of the coil, look at the spring and note whether it is coiling towards the left or right. If it winds clockwise, then it is going to the right. If it is counterclockwise, it is winding to the left.

Extension Spring

Extension Spring

How to Measure Extension Springs Accurately

Two things are important to note in an extension type spring: its length and the weight that it can hold. When you place a door that is more than the spring can handle, it cause it to loosen like a telephone cord. To find the measurement, you need to do the following steps. First, close the door and unplug the motor from its power source. Pull the release cord to open the door and manually lift them. You can usually lift the door at the center but if you have damaged springs, lift from the damaged side.

When opened, you can use a vice grip to clamp the wheels to prevent the doors from closing. Measure the length of the spring using a measuring tape while on a ladder. The door’s weight can also be weighed using the traditional bathroom scale.

To get the weight of the door, place the bathroom scale at the center of the floor where the door will position if it is closed. Release the cord and open the doors a little while sliding the bathroom scale in this space. Put the door down towards the floor slowly and take note of the reading on the bathroom scale.

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What Our Clients Say

Excellent
Based on 153 reviews
Tony P
Tony P
2024-01-29
Serviceman arrived at the scheduled time and the job completed was excellent!
Stratis Tsapoitis
Stratis Tsapoitis
2023-12-27
Quick response, quality work. Explained everything and asked if I had any questions. I would highly recommend them!
Peter N
Peter N
2023-10-31
Mohamed came referred to me by a close friend to help with my garage door cable snapping! Mohamed was professional, patient, and took the time to explain what was needed. He even serviced the springs that became unwound and lubricated all the parts that needed it. While my garage door eventually needs to be replaced he bought me some time to decide what we are looking for. He wasn’t pushy at all and I feel comfortable booking him in as soon as we are ready to replace our doors. Can’t recommend his services enough!
Larry Enair
Larry Enair
2023-10-10
Anwar came to the house same day and replaced the spring in no time. Excellent work and I highly recommend Pro Entry Garage Doors. Very fair price.
Ashraf Morsy
Ashraf Morsy
2023-10-06
Great Service. They arrived on time and fixed my garage door and they recommended the most cost effictive fix. Thank you
George Mesich
George Mesich
2023-10-06
My garage door springs were broken and it was very difficult to open the door manually so I contacted Pro Entry to come in to take a look. Mohammed was my service tech and he came on time and was very professional. He did a great job in making sure that the replacement springs were installed correctly. I also opted to replace the rollers which were looking worn. Beyond that he did a great job in setting up the garage door openers. Very happy with the service and would highly recommend.
Jay Roy
Jay Roy
2023-09-23
Very professional and honest. A real pleasure to work with. We would definitely recommend Pro Entry Garage Doors.
Mandar Vaidya
Mandar Vaidya
2023-09-14
I had an unexpected issue with my garage door. Reached out to Pro Entry, they promptly resolved the issue. Kept me posted on their arrival. Arrived on time. Anwar was very knowledgeable, and thoroughly professional. He upfront advised about the work required, the cost and was quick. Great service. Will not hesitate to use them again and recommend them 100%
Yvonne Lawrence
Yvonne Lawrence
2023-09-07
Very good experience. Mel was very quick to locate a technician to handle my emergency. My garage door could not open, so I was unable to access my car, and needed my problem resolved the same day. The technician Anwar was great. He contacted me to advise that his earlier appointment was delayed and when he would get to me. He was courteous, funny and dealt with my issue quickly. I will definitely keep Pro Entry in my contact list and refer them to anyone I know who needs garage door services. Great experience.