A garage door torsion spring is a very important piece in making the door work properly. These springs are used to help lift the majority of the weight either by hand or an electronic device by the way that they twist. Therefore, without this part the door will not work properly. They are found at the top of the doors where the tension is greatest.
Torsion springs can be made up of several different types of metallic materials. These include galvanized, electro coat tempered or oil tempered. Oil tempered is of much lower quality, so you really should purchase the galvanized or electro coat tempered springs. These are the highest quality made today, very durable and can lift up to 500 pounds. Galvanizing helps protect against corrosion since the zinc and iron form a bond. Although this may be more expensive, you really want to concentrate on the longevity of this product – replacing garage door springs is no fun so it is not something you want to be doing time and time again.
There are many different sizes, so you will need to know the exact measurements before making a purchase. The most important thing to remember when replacing these parts is that the torsion spring must be firmly attached to the frame of the garage door. Installing garage door springs can be fairly dangerous, so doing your research beforehand or having a professional install these for you is a necessity. Since there are springs on both side of the door, if you replace one you need to replace the other. There are many different manufacturers of these, but some of the most commonly known are made by Clopay, Genie, Raynor, Wayne Dalton and Ideal.
If you decide to install these yourself, there is a set of instructions that you must follow very carefully. Always make sure that you wear eye protecting goggles. Research the directions on how to uninstall the current springs in your door. Online retailers can give you a quote on the price of the spring by informing them of the spring wire size, length of spring and the inside diameter of spring. The price of these usually range anywhere from $20 a spring to $150 plus a spring. Commercial sizes are always more expensive since they are bigger and require more material to be made.
The garage door torsion spring is a necessity in making your door work properly. Just make sure that you purchase the strongest and most long lasting on the market.
