Garage door springs are under stress because they make the door lighter. There is a lot of tension when the heavy door drops to the ground because it pushes down on many big load-bearing springs. The springs in your garage door make it much easier for your opener to lift the door back up when it’s time. Spring breaks even if you don’t see or hear them.
Suppose your door won’t open with the opener or even by hand. With no force from the springs, it weighs twice as much. Doing this on your have can be small, risky, and difficult at times. It also depends on the type of springs you have and how much skill you need to do this job well. Don’t be afraid to contact us if you don’t think you can handle the process.
Your Garage Door’s Springs Type
There are different kinds of springs on different garage doors, and there is a big difference in how easy it is to change them. Extension springs and torsion springs are two types of springs. Look at your garage door, and you’ll be able to tell right away what kind of springs you have.
In a door system, if there are long springs that run along the tracks on both sides of the door extension springs. In the sky, they’re long and thin. These springs are bigger and sit on a metal rod next to the door opening. There may be vertical springs on both sides of a very old door that swings up in the air.
Side springs: Usually go with other extension springs in the air. Now, both extension and torsion springs work simultaneously, doing the same thing. It helps you move the door back up when you open the door because the weight and gravity of the door make you tense and load when you close the door.
Think about how extension springs stretch when loaded to understand the difference. Energy is stored outward and wants to return to the center. On the other hand, Torsion springs twist when the door lowers, and they release the energy by untwisting in the other direction.
How to Change Torsion Door Springs
As you might have guessed from the name, Torsion springs are thought to be the more dangerous type of spring to work with. You can work with torsion springs as long as you know what you’re doing and pay attention to the process. It can be very dangerous, though, if you do not. They store a lot of energy, and you don’t want that energy to come out in your general direction. These torsion springs do that.
They are lower than a lot of stress, and you’ll have to keep this in mind. We think it’s best to call a professional unless you’re 100% sure you can do it independently. It’s safer and easier that way. There is a tool that you need if you’re going to change torsion springs: a winding bar. This tool can twist and untwist the springs to change the amount of torsion.
They have winding cones on each torsion spring at the end of the spring. This is where the winding bar goes, and it can twist the whole spring with this piece. When you slowly turn the bar, you’ll have to push the spring against the door to let them out slowly. You’ll need to keep the door closed to change the torsion springs.
Usually, there are only two torsion springs on a door, and if one of them is fully broken, you’re already halfway there! It will be easy to put the new springs on the door after removing the old ones from the door. You have to wind them up and put them on the door. For more help, it’s easier to look up a video on how to screw and remove the springs from the door.
How to Change Extension Door Springs
Extension springs are thought to be easier to change than regular springs. You don’t have to worry about any dangerous tension when you want to change or remove the springs on your door. Open the door, and the springs should be safe to work with. To keep the door in place when you start to work on it, you should use clamps. Remove the springs from the brackets, pulley, and safety cable. Then, put the new spring in place, attaching it to the pulley and the safety cable. That’s all!
Should I change the springs myself or not?
How confident you are, whether or not you’re looking for a project, and what kind of springs you have on your door all play a role. You’re in luck if you’re good at DIY projects, have a whole day set aside, and have extension springs! You may be able to deal with things on your own. But for many of us, replacing the springs on our garage doors is not worth the trouble.
There’s always the chance you don’t get everything right, and the door won’t work. Also, if the springs aren’t put in the right way, it can be dangerous to use your garage door over time. It can place a bunch of stress on the door, causing it to break or shorten the opener’s life. Both ways, fixing your springs is a great way to save money. Make sure you know what you’re doing, or you might have to spend a little extra money to get everything fixed.
