Contrary to popular belief the garage door opener doesn’t really open the garage door. It just gives it a nudge to get it started and then regulates the speed of the door as it raises and lowers. It’s actually the spring(s) that provide the power to lift the door. There are two kinds of springs in use on most garage doors service: torsion springs and extension springs. Without them the door wouldn’t go much of anywhere and you’d have to open and close the door manually.
The Importance of the Garage Doors Spring Service
Garage door springs are decidedly low tech which makes them a bit of an outlier in today’s digital world. They work by storing energy when the door is being lowered and releasing it to lift the door. No lithium ion batteries. No solar panels. Just brute force stored in the coiling or extending spring which makes the garage door a truly energy efficient mechanism. As noted there are two types of springs in use on most garage doors in Calgary today. They are:
Torsion springs – In most cases a single torsion spring is used to lift the garage door. Typically it is attached to the wall above the door and is positioned parallel to the door. As the door is lowered the torsion spring coils ever tighter and stores enormous amounts of energy. When you open the door the torsion spring releases its energy by uncoiling and thus lifting the door. Torsion springs have a typical lifespan of 10,000 open/close cycles. That translates to roughly 7 years of life if the door is opened and closed 4 times a day. Obviously if you only use your garage door rarely the torsion spring should have much longer life.
Extension springs – Extension springs run parallel to the garage door tracks. Typically 2 extension springs are used with one over each track. As their name implies extension springs store energy by extending lengthwise as the door is dropped. They then release that energy by contracting as the door is opened. In an effort to save money unscrupulous garage door companies will sometimes install as single extension spring that sits between the 2 tracks. While this may work for a time it puts enormous stress on the spring which will have an abbreviated lifespan as a result.
When to Call for Spring Repair
You can usually tell when a spring is nearing the end of its usefulness because the door will open sluggishly. If you suspect the garage door spring is on its last legs there is a simple test you can run. Disconnect the motor by pulling on the emergency release handle that’s near the end of the chain right above the door. It should be bright red or yellow and have a handle on it. Once the motor is disconnected open the door manually to about the height of your waist and let go of it. If the door doesn’t move your spring is probably okay. If however the door begins to fall toward the ground the spring should probably be replaced.
When a torsion or extension spring snaps it can produce a pretty startling sound. All the springs energy is released in one violent convulsion and people have actually lost their lives working on or near a spring when it snaps. As such, it’s crucial to always leave garage door spring repair to the pros at B&W Garage Doors.
If you are in need of garage door spring repair in Calgary call B&W Garage Doors on (403) 275-6048. We’ll be there in no time to set things right quickly and safely.