What is a Torsion Spring and Why is it so Essential?

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You garage door is a very important piece of equipment that not only protects all the belongings in your garage, but oftentimes it also provides an entryway into your house. Needless to say, having your garage door in good condition and working smoothly is necessary for the safety and security of your home. If you have any problem with your garage door, getting it fixed, understandably, becomes top priority. While your garage door is too big and heavy, and has many different parts for you to try to fix any issues, but having some knowledge about basic parts of your garage door can come in handy for regular maintenance. This article talks about one of the most important parts of any garage door- the torsion spring. Read on to find out all about the torsion spring and its importance.
What is a Torsion Spring?

Just like any spring, garage door torsion springs store mechanical energy due to a rotating or twisting motion. They can store much more energy than a usual spring because they are made from a denser material. You can generally see torsion springs mounted horizontally on the of your garage door. When you pull down or close your garage door, cables attached to the bottom corners force the springs to wind up, in turn energizing the system. When you open your garage door, the springs unwind and their energy transfers to the door. This helps it to lift up and makes it easier to open. With continued opening and closing of the garage door, over time, the steel in the springs begins to weaken and eventually the springs break.

Other than continuous usage, environmental factors such as rusting and hot/cold weather can also effect the lifespan of the torsion springs. The average lifespan of torsion springs is five to seven years or 10,000 cycles (of opening and closing the garage door). Contacting a reputable garage door repair company in Fort Lauderdale is the best thing to do for any repairs or replacement of torsion springs.

Importance of a Torsion Spring

The most common type of garage door system is a torsion spring system. The springs are usually constructed from titanium, carbon and stainless steel, and beryllium copper. They are designed according to the weight of the garage door. If the weight of the door is increased (say you get a new door), then the torsion springs will need to be replaced. You cannot use the same springs because they are constructed to work with garage doors only up to a certain weight limit. Not just the weight, but also the size of the springs may be different to be able to work with different doors. The smooth and safe functioning of your garage door depends on the torsion springs to a large extent. Therefore, the importance of these is quite evident. Along with some other components, the entire spring apparatus of your garage door works to raise and lower it. This apparatus includes cables, cable drums, and a torsion tube besides the springs themselves.

The cables are attached to the cable drums, which are installed alongside the door. The torsion tube is fitted inside the springs and runs along the top of the door. The cable drums are tightened onto this tube. The springs unwind when the garage door is opened, and wind up when it is closed. Without their proper functioning, your garage door cannot work. A broken spring can cause the door to fall rapidly, causing injury or even death. Do not attempt to fix or replace torsion springs yourself, as this can be a very dangerous undertaking. Calling a professional repair company is the best option. In Fort Lauderdale, garage door repair can be performed by Garage Door Pros.

Our experts are well-versed with all aspects of garage doors and have the experience and tools to fix your door right away. Sensors, motors, springs, rollers, and more- you name it and we have experience in fixing it all, as well as replacing and installing new doors. Just call us at 954.830.9661 and let us know how we can help you. We are confident that you will not find a better Fort Lauderdale garage door service.