Garage Door Spring

First is the torsion spring, whose average life cycle is six to ten years, or 10,000 cycles.  To prevent replacing the torsion spring again, it is advised to upgrade the existing spring to a high cycle spring. All torsion springs are custom made of premium grade “stock” or precut torsion springs. Make sure the measurements are correct as any variation in the spring dimensions will affect the overall spring life and counterbalance. 

Second of the garage door spring selections is the extension spring. When ordering an extension spring, first determine the door weight and height. The pull weight of the spring is determined by a color code that will be found on the end of the spring. Then measure the door height. The standard height for most residential garage doors is either 6 ft 6 inches or 7 ft high. If the door is higher, you will need to call for additional pricing.  When weighing the door, raise it to the full position; secure the door in the “up” position by snapping a vice grip or C clamp under the bottom rollers. Remove the springs from the door very carefully as this is a dangerous job. If the garage holds only one car, lower the garage door onto a bathroom scale that will be placed at the center of the door, reading the scale weight. If the garage is a double door, use two bathroom scales, placing the scales two feet from each side. Add the total weights from both scales for the door weight for an accurate description for the garage door spring.

Third type of the garage door spring choices are the commercial and industrial springs. The most important part of this choice is the specific wire size, inside the diameter, length of spring and the left or right wound for the wind of spring. The wire size is measured with a caliper, micrometer or wire gauge.  If you cannot do this, measure the ten coils of wire to the nearest 1/16th of an inch of the tightly compressed spring allowing no gaps between coils.  Then you will need to measure the inside diameter to 1/16th of an inch. The cones inserted in each end of the spring show common clues toward proper identification for the garage door spring.  Measurement of the length of spring is in its unwound state. If the spring is distorted or broken, count the total number of coils and multiply by the wire size. Winding coils are color coded for hand identification. Right hand springs are red cones, left hand springs are black cones.  The correct information for ordering a garage door spring will determine whether you will successfully be able to fix it or not.