The Incorrect Springs Could Cause the Garage to Fall Off its Tracks - This is a worst-case scenario that we warn homeowners about.
You must use springs that are matched to the weight of the door. You cannot compensate for the wrong size spring by adjusting the number of winding turns.
In reality, that's not the case. Garage door springs come in different sizes and strengths and it's important that you have the right spring for your particular door.
To make matters worse, a spring that's too big will cause your door to open faster than it should. In extreme cases, the door can open with enough force to knock children or unprepared adults over when they attempt to open the door.
By using cross members on doors, lift them halfway up. If they start to go down slowly, it means the tension is too loose. If you leave them and they rise a little more on their own, it means that the tension is too tight.
Increasing A Spring Cycle Life
Another difference between extension and torsion springs is that a torsion spring has the flexibility of increasing its cycle count. The cycle count can increase by using a heavier wire and a longer spring length.
If your garage door springs have lasted less than five years, or if you plan to live where you are for many years, you may want to try the extra long life torsion springs. By using larger springs, you can, in most cases, quadruple your spring life while only doubling the cost of the springs.
Expect to spend $120–$350 to replace your garage door spring, including material costs and professional installation. While these heavy-duty springs are built to last, they'll eventually need replacement due to wear and tear. Garage door spring replacement isn't your average DIY project, either.
It is clear that opening a garage door with a broken spring, whether manually or using the opener, is dangerous and potentially damaging to the door and the opener and can incur additional costs. The safety risks involved cannot be overstated.
Q) Why do I have two different sized springs on my garage door? A) Torsion Springs may be mismatched from the factory or from a previous replacement.
If the last coil of the spring points in the same direction of your fingers, then you are looking at the right handed spring. If it turns away from your fingers, then you are looking at the left handed spring. Many times, the wind direction becomes an important consideration.
In most cases, you can determine the wind of your garage door torsion spring by using the color-coded system on the cones at the end of the spring. Usually, you will have two springs on your door, which will be color-coded. In MOST (not all) cases, the end on the right hand wind is red and the left hand wind is black.
Torsion springs should be wound four quarter turns per foot of door height, plus an extra two turns. Once you're done winding your springs, keep a winding rod resting on the garage door header and tighten the set screws on the spring with a socket wrench.
If your garage door has a broken garage door spring, it is reasonably straightforward to replace if you are an experienced DIY enthusiast. The caveat is that you must be extremely careful when carrying out this procedure, as not following the correct safety measures can be dangerous.
When properly installed, your springs can last approximately 10,000 cycles. One cycle includes both the opening and closing of the door. Technically speaking, your springs should last between 7 to 10 years. However, this depends on how often you use your garage door.
Replacing both springs at the same time offers a significant benefit. It reduces the risk of one spring failing shortly after the replacement, saving you from having to repeat the entire repair process.
Personal Injury – Springs that exert too much force when your garage door is opened could also pose a danger to you and other members of your household. If the door retracts too quickly, it could bounce when it reaches the top and hit any people or pets in the vicinity on its way back down.
A 7 ft tall garage door with a standard 12 inch drum, will require 29-30 quarter turns on the spring. An 8 ft garage door with a standard 12 inch drum, will require 33-34 quarter turns on the spring.
Garage doors with torsion spring systems can have one or two springs. The number of springs you need will depend on the weight of the door. If you live in a new construction home and are having problems with your door have a professional check out your door.
Springs That Are Too Big Can Damage the Garage Door Opener
When garage door springs are too large, they provide more strength than the door needs. It will open with too much force, rolling up very quickly and compromising its safety.
The elastic limit of a material is the furthest point it can be stretched or deformed while being able to return to its previous shape. When an elastic object is stretched beyond its elastic limit, the object does not return to its original length or shape when the force is removed.
“1.75” means the inside diameter is 1 ¾ inches. “2” means the inside diameter is two inches etc. If you cannot find the size indication simply measure the inside diameter yourself. As for determining the overall length, just break out the tape measure and measure it from where the spring starts to where it ends.