As a homeowner if you have a garage you might be curious about how long it can last and In particular the springs that are directly responsible for its function.
The most common spring used in a garage door is the torsion spring and by knowing more about it and its important part within the garage door system can help to avoid accidents and keeping your garage door in a perfect working condition
What is a Garage Door Torsion Spring?
Before talking about the torsion spring can lifespan, it is very important to understand what it does and how it works.
The spring main role is to help balance the door’s enormous weight, When you open or close the door, the spring stores and releases energy to make it easier for the door to move basically it works like a spring toy that bounces back when you stretch it.
To be more clear about this without a torsion spring your garage door will be very heavy and almost impossible to lift.
By reducing the doors weight the torsion spring making it easy to open and close the door, whether you’re using a garage door opener or lifting it manually during a power outage.
Factors Affecting Torsion Spring Lifespan
Spring Material Quality
The type of metal used for the spring has a large effect on its lifespan when a high quality steel springs will last longer.
The Usage
How many times a day you open and close your garage door is another important factor. The more frequent the use is the faster the spring wear out.
High Maintenance
Keeping the spring in good condition can add years to its lifespan and regular lubrication will certainly make it last longer.
Weather Conditions
Extreme weather like very low temperatures in the winter or high humidity in summer can have huge effect on its lifespan as well.
A properly maintained top rated garage door torsion spring can last about 3 to 6 years, however it can change depending on how often you use it. There are some noticeable warning signs that require a spring replacement like:
Visible Wear Out
Check for cracks, gaps or any other damage in the spring coils.
Unbalanced Door
If the door shakes or doesn’t stay level when moving it might be the spring last moments.
Loud Noises
If the door makes a lot of noise during operation it means the spring is getting old.
Difficulties in Movement
If the door feels heavy or it is getting harder to operate it the spring should be immediately checked out.
