Springs are the part of a garage door most affected by living a block from the ocean. The air on Collins Avenue carries salt, humidity stays high for most of the year, and the door sits in that environment day and night. That combination is hard on oil-tempered steel that is under constant tension and cannot be repainted once it has been wound.
Why Springs Fail On The Barrier Islands
Corrosion starts as pitting on the surface of the coil. Every pit is a stress riser, and a spring that is cycled several times a day works that weak point every time the door moves. On the coast we see coils break through the middle far more often than we see springs wear out evenly, and a broken torsion spring usually announces itself with a bang the whole street hears.
Torsion And Extension Springs
Torsion springs sit on a shaft above the door and lift its weight through cables and drums. Extension springs stretch along the horizontal tracks above each side and lift the door through pulleys, and they must have a safety cable threaded through them so a break is contained. The correct spring depends on the weight of the door, the height of the door and the size of the drums, which is why springs are matched rather than guessed.
- Torsion springs lift through cables and drums and are wound on a shaft above the door
- Extension springs stretch above the horizontal tracks and rely on a safety cable to contain a break
- Both types are rated in cycles, where one cycle is one open and close
- Springs should always be replaced as a pair, never one at a time
- A door fitted with a jackshaft operator needs torsion springs, because there is no shaft otherwise
Cycle Ratings And Planned Replacement
A standard residential torsion spring is commonly rated at around 10,000 cycles. High-cycle springs rated at 25,000 cycles and above use heavier wire and are the right choice for a door that is used constantly or for a commercial application. Knowing the rating lets us tell a homeowner roughly how much working life a spring has left, instead of waiting for it to break and then explaining what happened.
The Balance Test, In Two Minutes
Close the door, pull the manual release, lift the door to about waist height and let go. A balanced door stays where you put it. A door that drops has springs that have lost tension; a door that lifts itself has been wound too tight or has the wrong springs fitted. Stop using the opener until it has been checked, because an unbalanced door puts its whole weight on the operator and on the cables.
Warning Signs Not To Ignore
- A loud bang from the garage, followed by a door that will not open
- The door rises a few inches and stops, or reverses straight away
- A visible gap in the coil, or a coil that has come off its winding cone
- One side of the door rising before the other
- A door that suddenly feels very heavy at the handle
- Slack or kinked cables at the drums
Why Spring Work Is Not A Do-It-Yourself Job
A wound torsion spring stores enough energy to cause serious injury, and the winding bars used to release that energy have to be the correct diameter for the cone. The number of turns is calculated from the door weight and the drum, not estimated by eye. Releasing a spring incorrectly can throw a bar across the garage, and a door wound unevenly can drop without warning. This is the one part of the door we never advise a homeowner to touch.
What We Do On A Spring Service Call
- Weigh the door and confirm the springs fitted are matched to it
- Replace both springs together, on a shaft that is checked for wear and straightness
- Inspect and replace cables and drums where the wire is worn or kinked
- Lubricate the springs and hinges with a lubricant suited to a coastal environment
- Re-balance the door and reset open and close travel limits and force
- Test the safety reverse and photo-eye alignment before leaving
- Record the spring cycle rating so the next replacement can be planned
A spring that is inspected before it breaks is a scheduled visit with a known part. A spring that breaks on a Saturday evening with a car in the garage is an emergency. The difference between the two is usually one maintenance visit a year.