Torsion Springs vs Extension Springs, What’s the Difference?
There are two basic types of springs used in garage doors, torsion springs and extension springs. Let’s understand springs and explore the differences between them.
The Purpose of Garage Door Springs
Springs are an important part of your garage door system. Both types of springs have the same purpose. Springs provide most of the force necessary to lift the door.
The garage door opener is more prominent, but can’t work without the springs. There are different garage door types, and some are quite heavy.
When the door is open, the springs are at rest with no tension. As the door closes, the springs are wound or stretched. The energy in those wound springs is what helps lift the door.
Similarities between torsion springs and extension springs
Both types of springs have the same purpose: to support the weight of the door so it can be lifted easily.
The lifespan of garage springs is similar for torsion and extension springs.
You can also find high cycle springs in both types.
Differences between torsion springs and extension springs
Different Designs
Torsion springs are twisted, or wound, in order to store energy, similar to winding a watch spring gives it energy.
The springs are mounted on a shaft that is connected to the door through a drum and a cable. As the door closes, the spring is twisted. As the spring then unwinds, it uses its energy to help lift the door.
Extension springs work by being stretched to store energy. This is similar, but opposite, to how springs in a car’s suspension are compressed to store energy.
Extension springs are attached to the door through a pulley and cable. As the door closes, the spring is stretched. As the spring contracts, it uses its energy to help lift the door.
Different appearance and location
Torsion springs are mounted to a shaft and located to the wall, right above the closed door. Whether there is one torsion spring, two, or even more, they are all mounted to the same shaft. When the door is open, the springs are not visible.
Extension springs are always used in pairs. They are mounted above the horizontal portion of the tracks, on each side of the door.
why torsion springs are better
Older homes used extension springs, but torsion springs are the dominant choice these days. Here the main reasons why.
torsion springs are better for safety
Safety is the main reason for using torsion bars. Springs wear out, so eventually all garage door springs break. When they break, the energy that is stored can be destructive.
Torsion springs are mounted over a shaft, so when they break, they remain on the shaft where they can’t cause damage.
Extension springs, on the other hand, are mounted openly, so when one breaks, it can fly off in uncontrollable ways and cause significant damage. Eventually, safety cables were a standard part of installation. But this was an afterthought, not part of the inherent design.
With proper safety mechanisms, you realize that what you do when a spring breaks is an inconvenience rather than as a serious danger.
torsion springs are better for maintenance
Extension springs have more components. This makes them more complicated to maintain. Since there are two completely separate spring mechanisms, this also creates extra work to maintain.
The more complicated system also makes it harder to balance the door, which is an important part of garage door maintenance.
We definitely prefer torsion springs, and we recommend converting extensions springs to torsion springs if possible. However, at Ideal Garage Doors we are garage door experts and we can work on both torsion springs and extension springs.
For fast and easy garage door spring repair in Collin County, give us a call.
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