Cool Gadgets For Your Garage

Garage Door Torsion Springs: 3 FAQs

Torsion springs are arguably the heart of your garage door. That's why the door is "dead" now that the spring is broken. Replacing a broken garage door spring will be more beneficial if you understand these springs better. This understanding will enable you to take better care of the new spring(s) you're going to install.

This article provides answers to three questions that homeowners often have about their garage door torsion springs.  

How Long Are These Springs Made To Last?

You probably feel like the broken springs haven't lasted as long as you'd expected or as long as the spring manufacturer claims they should.

The life expectancy of garage door torsion springs in measured in cycles, whereby one cycle means that the garage door has been opened and closed. Torsion springs usually have a lifespan of 10,000 cycles, after which they're likely to call it a day. How long the springs fitted on your door will last depends on how fast you'll exhaust the 10,000 cycles. This is based on the assumption that all other factors (e.g. the spring doesn't suffer physical damage) remain constant.

What Makes Torsion Springs Break?

Torsion springs will often break when they've outlived their lifespan. This is because their structural integrity will have been compromised by normal wear and tear during its active lifespan. The spring will therefore not have the strength to bear the load associated with garage door operations.

Pre-mature breakage of torsion springs often results from corrosion and rust on the surface of the spring. Rust affects the structural integrity of the spring by "eating away" layers of the metal used to make the spring. This leaves your torsion springs thinner and weaker, thereby making them break easily when upon loading.

How Can You Extend The Lifespan Of New Torsion Springs?

Extending the lifespan of torsion springs means that you use your 10,000 cycles sparingly. This may not always be possible (e.g. if you use the garage for storage and you/your kids need to access it regularly). You might want to invest in an extended-life torsion spring.

These springs are often made thicker and more rigid than the standard springs so that they offer an improved lifespan.

If the old springs broke due to corrosion/rust, your garage might be too humid. Corrosion on torsion springs often happens when there's too much moisture in the air within the garage. When condensation occurs, tiny into droplets of water may settle on the torsion springs, hence corrosion.

You might want to have the basement dehumidified before the new springs are installed. This should reduce the likelihood of corrosion-related damage on the new springs.


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