Too much tension: Your garage door will not close completely or will remain closed and blocked.
Over winding a garage door torsion spring can cause the spring to break during the winding process. Under winding a garage door torsion spring creates its own set of problems and is not recommended.
Use the winding rods to tighten the springs to the torsion bar. 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.
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.
The length of the torsion spring often correlates with its life cycle. A longer spring doesn't just affect the door's operation; it can also indicate a longer lifespan, meaning fewer replacements over time.
Can garage door springs be too strong? Yes.
As a rule of thumb, it is generally 4 quarter turns per foot. So for a 7 ft. tall door, you will need approximately 28 quarter turns. Granted door weights do vary among other variables.
Torsion springs usually have 5,000-20,000 cycles which means they can last between 7 to 12 years (and even more). Extension Springs' Life Expectancy: Extension springs are installed at the side of the door and act extend, rather than contract (as does the torsion 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.
Uneven movement: If your garage door is moving unevenly, such as jerking or hesitating, this could be another indication also that the springs need adjustment. When the springs are not properly balanced, one side of the door may be heavier than the other, causing the door to move unevenly.
Its common to see the springs off-centered to allow for low headroom situations to utilize an opener. 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.
For every foot of height of your garage door, you will need four times the tension. For example, if you have 8-foot doors you will need to make exactly 32 turns on your spring (8×4=32). If you want to tighten the spring tension, use winding bars and move them upwards.
While WD-40 has many valuable applications, it is not recommended to use it on your garage door's springs. The best way to keep your garage door springs lasting throughout the years is to lubricate them 1-2 times annually with either white lithium or silicone-based spray.
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.
However, a roll-up garage door uses torsion springs that are more expensive to replace. These are more often used in commercial settings. Spring Type: Extension springs usually cost $50 to $100 each with labor. Torsion springs cost $75 to $150 to replace.
Replacing garage door springs takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. New garage door springs last 7 to 14 years, or between 10,000 and 20,000 up-and-down cycles.
A good general guideline is one full turn per foot of door height. So, with an ordinary 7-foot garage door, the torsion spring generally takes about 7 total turns. But remember that different door weights and types of springs may change this number. A garage door spring turn chart can be handy here.
Replacing a garage door spring yourself isn't impossible, but it does require special knowledge about the springs and how a garage door works.
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.
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.
Advantages of 2 Springs
With 2 springs on your garage door, only one of them breaks 99% of the time. Most garage doors will still open if only one of the two springs is broken.