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Joe Wilde Company

Joe Wilde Company

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Garage Door Springs: Torsion and Extension

July 21, 2022

Every garage door uses steel springs to open and close it. These springs experience tremendous force each time the door opens or closes. Most homeowners use the garage door more than the front door as an entrance and exit to the home. As a result, the garage door is subject to regular wear and tear and occasionally will have functional issues. 

Door springs have an expected life of about 10,000 cycles. A cycle is one opening and one closing of the garage door. For the springs, over time the steel gradually fatigues with each flex, and eventually cracks and breaks. When it breaks it will release its stored energy in an instant with a loud noise or bang. If you have just experienced a broken spring, it was most likely a startling experience, and you should call the professionals at Joe Wilde Company to make the repairs. 

Two types of springs are used in the operation of garage doors:  Extension Springs and Torsion Springs. Here is some information about each spring and the differences between them.

Extension springs are installed at the side of the door and expand fully when opening the door and then contract to pull the door closed. Torsion springs do not fully extend but instead turn when the door operates. There should always be two springs installed on the door. A second spring helps to keep the tension when the first spring breaks, resulting in fewer broken cables and less damage to the garage door itself.

Torsion springs are sturdier and safer than extension springs. It is always dangerous when a spring breaks. However, a torsion spring is installed around the spring bar, so although it will make a loud bang, it will stay safely on the bar. When an extension spring breaks, it typically flies off the housing, causing major damage to windows and cars, and even serious injury or death to people in its path.

With either style of spring, if one spring breaks and they were installed at the same time, it is likely that the other will not be far behind since they both have the same wear and tear. For this reason, Joe Wilde Company suggests changing both springs at once, and we always replace both if they are the extension type. This will save you the expense of a second service trip that is inevitably coming.

Torsion springs have many more great benefits. These springs are easy to lubricate and maintain. Torsion springs keep a controlled and steady motion when the garage door moves. This steady motion will help keep the door in balance, resulting in less wear on the opener. When the garage door opener performs better and experiences less wear and tear, it will last longer and experience fewer problems. 

Extension springs may have to be used in certain situations, such as a very low overhead or the inability to install a torsion spring. If your door must use these springs, it’s important to note that they have some disadvantages that you will want to monitor. Extension springs have a jerking motion when they operate, which can put a door out of alignment, or require the door to need occasional adjustment. A door out of alignment tends to wear or even cause damage to other parts of your garage door. Also, extension springs require more parts, which means more parts that can wear down, break, or will need to be replaced at some point. 

Joe Wilde Garage Door Service

If a spring breaks on your garage door, call our pros at Joe Wilde Company immediately for emergency service. Broken springs or cables should only be serviced by a professional technician. We offer Emergency Service 24-7. We keep our trucks stocked and our service professionals are ready to make all repairs. We service all brands, too! Contact us at www.joewilde.com/service-request or call us at (262) 782-0500.

To ensure a properly working door and operator, you should have them serviced every year. Call Joe Wilde Company to schedule an Annual Tune-Up Service to your garage door. Regular service can extend the life of your door and operator.

The help section of our website is always available! You can get quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about garage doors and openers on our website at www.joewilde.com/service-repair/frequently-asked-questions. 

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Joe Wilde Company

16601 W Cleveland Ave
New Berlin, WI 53151

Phone (262) 782-0500

5012 28th Ave
Rockford, IL 61109

Phone (815) 491-8115

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