Even the smallest and lightest of steel garage doors weigh in at about 100 pounds. Others are heavier, depending on the size, type of material used, different types of glass, etc. In order to make it operable by hand, or by an opener, it needs a counter balance system. That’s where the garage door springs come in. They provide the force necessary to make such a heavy object functional. There are two types commonly used in residential settings: torsion and extension.

Torsion Spring

Torsion springs are usually installed on larger or heavier garage doors. Most models wide enough for two cars will commonly have this type of spring. They’re found on the wall above the opening, and look like a long metal coil. Most people barely notice them until one breaks, and everything becomes too heavy to lift. When it has broken, you’ll see the separation in the coils. You’ll need professional service for this type of garage door spring repair. The counter balance system is under extreme tension, and can cause injury or death. For that reason, homeowners should never attempt to adjust or repair any of it’s components. Additionally, forcing the opener to pull too much weight can damage the opener, and the top panel of the garage door.

Extension springs are usually found on smaller garage doors that are wide enough for only one car. These can be found nearly parallel to the tracks near the ceiling, one on each side. Many times, the extension type will relax to the point that they need replacement, instead of actually breaking. When this happens you can usually see repeated gaps in the coils, and you may consider having the garage door springs serviced or replaced. Extension systems, while more inexpensive to install and maintain than torsion, are not suitable for installation on models wide enough for two cars due to the lack of balance. Torsion systems use the shaft, along with the drums and cables, to provide equal amounts of lift on each side of the door. Extension springs are independent of each other, and require proper tension to ensure level operation of the garage door. One advantage of having extension, is the ease of replacement. Local hardware stores typically carry them, and a do it yourself job is possible for those who are mechanically inclined. Don’t forget to use caution, as the extension counter balance system is also under extreme pressure, and can cause injury or death.

Wer’re always glad to provide pricing for garage door spring repair. Lifetime warranties on replacement springs are available in most cases. Spring repair is one example of the routine services that we are typically able to perform on the same day. Please call us at 678-714-7393 for more information, or contact us online.

1. Why does it reverse back up instead of closing?

Most likely, your safety eyes are out of alignment, or something is blocking the path of the garage door. The safety sensors/eyes need a clear line of sight between each other in order for the opener to travel downward. They’re usually black, and attached at the base of the tracks. Each should have a small LED light that remains lit when both sensors are properly aligned. If bumped out of place, they can be adjusted by hand so that they are pointing at each other again. It’s fairly common for the lenses on the safety eyes to become obscured by dirt or other debris, as well. Take a look at this post for more troubleshooting advice on garage door openers.

2. Why is it so heavy?

Garage doors are generally at least 8′ wide and 7′ high. That amount of material can really tip the scales, making it the largest moving piece of machinery in your home. That’s why there are springs and a counter balance system to take all that weight, and make it manageable. Remember manual keylocks, and doing things by hand? Openers don’t (or shouldn’t) pull any more weight than a person would when doing that job. That being said, springs can relax over time, making things heavier. Stripped gears, which are a very common repair, are caused by this type of problem.  It’s generally a good idea to do some maintenance about once a year. Have a professional check for proper spring tension, and adjust them if needed.

3. Why won’t it go up? / Why is it stuck in the down position?

Take a look at the springs located on the wall above the garage door. There should be no break, or separation in the coils. Springs generally last for about 7 years, depending on the amount of daily usage. Again, these provide the force for balancing out all that weight. When one breaks, it can make things too heavy to lift, causing it to seem stuck in place. If one of yours is broken, you’ll probably need to call a pro. If you’ve seen no separation in the coils, try pulling the emergency release. This will allow manual operation, without the motor. It may be that they’ve relaxed to the point that the opener can’t lift the weight anymore.

Hopefully, some of your questions have been answered. If you still have issues that weren’t covered here, you may want to take a look at our blog. We also have links available for manufacturer sites. Most manufacturers will offer online access to owner’s manuals. Manuals for your model product are the best source for learning how to safely troubleshoot, and maintain your system.

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