Garage door torsion springs are used to open the garage door with minimum effort. When the door is closed, tension is applied to the torsion spring. When the door opens, torsion springs relieve tension and help lift the door. So you can easily lift something as heavy as a garage door.
In addition, a properly functioning torsion spring allows the garage door to be locked in place. Even if you lift it halfway, it will not fall over and you do not need to fix it, so the torsion spring works.
If the weight of the garage door is light, a single torsion spring is used. If the weight of the garage door is high, two or more torsion springs are used.
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How Do Garage Door Torsion Springs Work?
Torsion springs are typically mounted horizontally across the garage door opening. When you pull down on the door, the cable connected to the bottom corner actually forces the spring to coil and power the system. When you open the door, the springs relax and energy is transferred to the door, which lifts and makes it easier to open.
Torsion springs for garage doors, like other springs, store mechanical energy and apply tension. Torsion springs store energy through rotational or torsional motion. The advantage of garage door torsion springs over traditional springs is that they are made of dense material and can store much more energy.
How to Replace Garage Door Torsion Springs
If the torsion spring is broken on the garage door, a skilled handyman can easily replace it. There is a warning that this can be dangerous if you do not follow proper safety precautions and that you should be very careful when performing this procedure. But if you know what you’re doing and have some basic tools at hand, you can save money by doing it yourself. This guide will show you how to replace the torsion springs in your garage door and the tools you need to do so.
Roughly speaking, there are about 8 steps to replace a garage door spring.
- Get the right tools.
- Measure and find the correct size torsion spring.
- Close the garage door.
- Make sure the garage door opener is unplugged.
- Attach the clamp to the rail.
- Remove the existing spring.
- Install a new spring.
- Check the balance of the door and lift it.
Risks Associated with Heavy Garage Door
Garage doors with broken torsion springs can quickly collapse, causing injury or death. However, the most common danger is if the torsion spring breaks and you decide to repair/replace it yourself. Torsion springs can be very dangerous and not only require accurate tools to do the work, but also a good understanding of the associated mechanisms. Some of the parts involved in such processes can be life-threatening and must be handled carefully and accurately. Therefore, it is always advisable to contact an expert rather than attempting a replacement or repair yourself. Failure to do so can result in injury or property damage.