Garage Door Springs - A What's What on the Most Important Part of your Garage Door
Garage Door Springs - What's the Difference Between a Torsion and an Extension Spring?
Although rarely noticed, your garage door springs are the most important part of your garage door. Your garage door is actually too heavy for the average person to lift; the average garage door can weigh up to 252 pounds, depending on the thickness of the door, type of steel used and other factors. That's like bench-pressing a typical football player!How Your Garage Door Springs Work
The scientific principle of mechanical advantage gives you help lifting the door. Mechanical advantage is provided by springs connected to a system of lift cables that help the operator lift the garage door when opening and prevent the door from dropping to the ground when closing. Therefore, broken garage door springs are a serious matter that should be addressed right away. Broken springs can suddenly whip around your garage, destroying personal property and/or causing serious injury. Furthermore, the broken springs will have sharp edges that can cut deep into your skin. When your garage door springs break, it's important to keep everyone, especially children, out of the garage until the springs are repaired for safety.>>Related Content: Garage Door Springs - What You Need To Know
Types of Springs Used on Garage Doors
Although there are many different types and sub-types of garage door springs on the market, there are two particular types of springs that are commonly used in residential and commercial garage doors:- Extension springs - True to their namesake, extension springs open and close your garage door by expanding and contracting.
- Torsion springs - Torsion springs are the most unique type of spring. That's because instead of expanding or contracting, these springs open and close your garage door by twisting around a central shaft.