Torsion Spring Garage Door Systems VS. Extension Spring (Pulley) Garage Door Systems
One of the most important parts of any garage door system or the heavy springs that are part of it. They play a key role in helping to take the stress off other garage door parts. They do this by distributing the heavy weight of a garage door over the entire garage door opening system. It’s the tension that’s placed on garage door springs that enables them to help lift up and close a heavy garage door. There are two main types of garage door springs. Of those, experts believe that having Torsion springs is the most advantageous garage door system.
The Two Types of Garage Door Springs
Unless you are a home improvement professional or a garage door technician, you are probably not aware of the choices you have in garage door spring. Here is what those are:
- Extension Spring (Pulley) Garage Door Systems
These are the older of the two ways in which springs are being used to help make garage doors easier to open and close. The springs are longer in most cases and placed on the sides of the garage door system.
This is the more modern of the two garage door spring systems. They are placed above the garage door in many cases instead of along the sides of a garage door system like extension springs are.
The Advantages of Using Torsion Spring Garage Door Systems
Here are some of the ways that torsion spring garage door systems benefit you as opposed to buying a garage door with an extension spring system:
- Torsion springs do not have to be fully extended to work
Garage door extension springs tend to max out in length when a garage door system is operating. This creates a lot of tension on those springs and they become much more likely to break. On the other hand, torsion springs use a turning motion that puts much less force on them when a garage door is operating. This means they are less prone to breaking and maintain proper spring tension longer.
- Torsion springs are stronger and more durable
Torsion springs tend to be thicker and stronger than their extension spring counterparts. This helps to make them last much longer than extension springs do. It is estimated that most torsion springs in a garage door system will last between 14,000 and 19,000 life cycles. Extension springs are only estimated to last less than 9,000 lifecycles.
- Torsion springs allow for smoother garage door operation
When garage doors with extension springs are working often times they work in a herky-jerky manner. This is not the case with smoother operating torsion springs and translates into less stress and strain on your garage door system.
- Extension springs have more working parts
Garage door systems with extension springs and pulleys have more working parts on them than torsion spring garage door systems. This makes them more prone to needing repairs.
- Safety is more of an issue when an extension spring breaks
We already mentioned that there is a lot more tension on extension springs when a garage door system is operating than when a torsion spring based garage door system is operating. That means when an extension spring breaks it often results in a very violent and dangerous action taking place. This is not the case when a torsion spring breaks. That makes them much safer to be around than extension springs.
Consider Switching Over To a Torsion Spring Garage Door System
Now that you know the benefits of having a torsion spring garage door system as opposed to an extension spring garage door system maybe you should consider making a change. By changing your existing garage door system from an extension based spring system to a torsion based spring system, you will then get all of the benefits that were mentioned above including having a garage door system that operates smoother and will last you well into the future.
Making this garage door spring changeover is much easier and less costly than you may imagine too. Garage door companies like Turner Sandy Springs Garage Door, LLC out of Sandy Springs, Georgia are experts at installing torsion spring based garage door systems at very reasonable prices. So contact a local garage door professional and ask them to come to your home and do a free garage door inspection so you can get an estimate to change your extension spring garage door system over to a torsion spring garage door system.
Get a 25-Point Garage Door Safety Inspection Done Periodically
No matter what type of garage door spring system that you have, you should always have a 25-point safety inspection done on it every year. This will give you peace of mind that your garage door is operating safely and properly. Here are the areas that most garage door safety inspections cover:
- Check the electronic keypads and remotes to ensure they are working correctly
- Test all safety sensors and other safety features on the system to ensure they are functioning correctly
- Look for parts that have become worn, corroded or appear in a generally unsafe condition
- Check spring tension to be sure that the garage door springs have not become overly tight and in danger of breaking and becoming a safety hazard
- Inspect the entire garage door track to make sure it’s properly aligned
- Completely examine pulley system and other working parts that bear the stress of raising and lowering a garage door
- Check the garage door opener motor to make sure it's operating properly and is not overheating while working
Many times during these free safety inspections a knowledgeable garage door tech will also spot minor garage door problems. This will enable them to make repairs to your garage door system now as opposed to waiting until these garage door problems become much bigger and more expensive repair jobs.
So be proactive and schedule a garage door safety inspection if you have not had one done at your home in the last year.