Regardless of the types of garage door springs you have, the purpose is the same: to help raise and lower the door. As the door is lowered, the spring gains tension and releases when raised. The spring will help lift the garage door, which offsets the door’s weight.
Depending on the type of garage door you have, you’ll have a specific type of garage door springs. Not every garage door uses the same types of springs. As a homeowner, you should know the differences because they have their own purposes, safety qualities, and costs.
Here is what you need to know about the different types of garage door springs:
What Are the Different Types of Garage Door Springs?
There are two different types of garage door springs: torsion springs and extension springs.
Torsion garage door springs are the most commonly used spring option. They are found on a shaft above the center of the garage door. They use torque to open and close your garage door. This means the springs twist when the door operates.
Extension springs are less common than torsion springs because of their safety risks. They are found on the horizontal track on each side of the door. As the door opens, these springs will be extended or stretched, helping hold the door up. The more the door opens, the more these springs are extended.
Torsion Spring vs. Extension Spring
Aside from how they operate, torsion and extension springs have other differences in a variety of qualities.
Safety
As we have already mentioned, extension springs are less safe than torsion springs. Since extension springs are extended and stretched, they have the chance to become serious safety hazards. When they begin to break, the force within the spring can send them through garage windows, windshields, and other building materials.
Torsion springs have the ability to break, but they don’t pose a safety risk. When they break, you’ll hear a loud bang, but it remains on the shaft. For this reason, we recommend torsion springs for your garage door.
Durability
Both types of garage door springs last about the same amount of time. However, many argue torsion springs last longer cause they go under less stress than extension springs. On average, both can last anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 cycles. That is about 7 to 12 years in total. Proper maintenance and care for your garage door springs will really impact how long they last you.
Cost & Installation
Torsion springs cost more than extension springs. On the other hand, extension springs require more parts for installation. While we always recommend hiring a professional garage door repair or installer company for your parts, DIYers will have a harder time with extension springs.
Wear on the Door
Torsion springs perform less wear and tear on your garage door system, including the opener. Extension springs require a lot more power and effort from your opener. This will cause your garage door opener to fail sooner than it should.
Your garage door opener does less work when paired with torsion springs because the weight of the door is balanced more evenly. When opening and closing the door, extension springs can allow for a wobbly or jerky motion. This is an unattractive feature that deters many homeowners.
Which Types of Garage Door Springs are Right For You?
It may be difficult to choose which types of garage door springs are right for your home. Nonetheless, you likely won’t have to decide since manufacturers ship doors with their respective springs. We also recommend hiring our team for any garage door spring repairs you may have. We work closely with both torsion springs and extension springs. If you notice any problems with either, reach out to our team for emergency repairs.
Give our team a call for a free estimate or fill out the contact form. You may also visit our garage door spring repair page for more details regarding what we can do for your torsion and extension springs. We are happy to provide Vancouver and Portland garage door repair services to residents and businesses.