Extension or Torsion Spring? Which One Is Better

 Garage doors use either torsion springs or extension springs and both have their strengths and shortcomings. When it comes to the kind of springs used for garage doors, we at Austin Home Garage Doors almost always sell and use torsion springs rather than extension springs every time we perform a garage door spring installation for our clients.

 

Extension springs are often used on the lighter doors and is usually placed on either side of your garage door tracks, while torsion springs are usually used on heavier garage doors. Here is a detailed evaluation of the two to help you know which spring type is best for the maximum performance of your garage door.

 

-Torsion springs have more power and are more flexible than extension springs. When your garage door operates, the extension springs expands and contracts fully, unlike the torsion springs that extends slightly, hence making it more powerful. Torsion springs turns and pulls your garage door better.

 

-Torsion springs are tougher and last longer. Though it costs more, torsion springs generally lasts between 15,000 to 20,000 cycles, a superior durability to extension springs’ 10,000 cycles. So if you want a sturdier spring that will last you longer, then you have to go for torsion springs instead of the extension springs.

 

-Torsion springs allows your garage door to have a controlled motion. Extension springs often results in jerking motions. A lot of tension might be there when you first open your garage door, but when this tension is gone, your garage door might fly up at a faster speed. With torsion springs, your garage door will have a controlled, steady motion every time you open or close it.

 

-Torsion springs keep your garage door in proper balance all the time, while extension springs can leave the door needing adjustment every now and then. With torsion springs, the proper balance effect it has on garage doors is a lasting result of its ability to control motion. The jerking motion of the extension springs is what causes the unbalancing of the door.

 

-Torsion springs require less parts compared to extension springs. When more parts are involved, the likelihood of things going wrong is automatically heightened. Extension springs require a longer cable and they have sheaves. These extra parts also make it harder to install garage door spring.

 

-Torsion springs are easier to lubricate and maintain than extension springs. Since extension springs require more parts for proper functioning, these extra parts can experience vigorous wear and tear, hence making maintenance cost of extension springs much more than what is needed for torsion springs maintenance. With torsion springs you will always experience a cheaper garage door spring repair replacement cost.

 

-Torsion springs leads to less wear on the garage door operator. Torsion springs will allow your overhead garage door operator to perform its task without requiring more power, and without unnecessary wear. Your operator won’t have to consume more power to open or close your garage door if it is using torsion springs as opposed to extension springs. This is partly so because of the better balancing effect of torsion springs, and the fact that with torsion springs your garage door experience a more controlled motion.

 

With these points, you are now in a position to know what spring type is best for you and your garage door. Torsion springs have drawbacks too, and price is one of them, but they are much better than extension springs. Life is always better with a perfectly functioning garage door, and torsion springs ensures that your door either gets to perfection or gets closer to it.