The Key Differences Between Garage Door Springs

You may not spend a lot of time thinking about the springs on your garage door. However, they tend to be among the most important parts of a door, and it generally won’t open if the spring is broken or damaged in some way. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the differences between torsion and extension springs.

What Are Extension Springs?

Extension springs will expand or contract as the door opens or closes. There is generally one spring placed on either side of the door to help balance out the tension that is created when the door moves in either direction. Open looped versions of an extension spring tend to be easier to change but are less durable than closed loop or clipped springs. Regardless of what type of spring that you have on a garage door, they should be inspected and replaced by a Long Beach garage door repair company.

What Is a Torsion Spring?

A torsion spring is generally placed along the top of a garage door and does not move when the door does. Instead, it is wrapped around a pair of drums located at either side of the door that spin when the garage door opens or closes. The drums that the springs are attached to can be made from either aluminum or steel. However, aluminum tends to be used more often on residential garage doors.

Springs Should Be Inspected Regularly

No matter what type of spring a garage door has, it won’t last forever. Therefore, it is important to have a spring and other garage door components inspected at least once a year. However, inspections can be done on a more frequent basis if necessary, and they may be included as part of a service package offered by a garage door contractor.