Has your garage suddenly stopped working after you heard a really loud bang? If so, you are likely experiencing a broken spring. Here’s how to identify which spring is defective and what to look for in a broken spring.
The 3 Types of Springs
There are three main types of garage springs:
- Torsion springs
- Extension springs
- Torque Master springs
Torsion springs are the tightly wound horizontal springs that help open and close your garage. A smaller example of a torsion spring can be found on a traditional mouse trap device. Torsion springs work by tightly winding up while the garage door goes down, thus storing potential energy. When the garage is lifted up, the torsion spring unwinds slightly, releasing the potential energy and assisting the door with opening.
Extension springs are an alternative to torsion springs. Extension springs do exactly what their name says they do – the expand and contract when opening and closing, unlike torsion springs which just turn.
The last type of garage door spring is the TorqueMaster spring. This spring is an exclusive product of Wayne Dalton. They are sturdy and dependable and are built specifically for Wayne Dalton models. They are contained inside of a steel tube.
What to Look for in a Broken Spring
If you are not sure if you have broken spring, here is what to look for in each of the types.
If you have a broken torsion spring, you will know. If a torsion spring is broken, you will see a very clear break in the coils. Torsion springs are the most dangerous part of the garage door to repair. The high amount of stored potential energy makes torsion springs incredibly powerful. Installing a torsion spring by yourself without the proper training can result in very serious harm to you or anyone around you. If you need torsion spring replacement in San Antonio, call Hollywood-Crawford Garage Door Co. right away to schedule service.
A broken extension spring is also very easy to spot. If you try to open your garage door and it opens very crooked, you will know that the extension spring is broken.
The best way to identify a broken TorqueMaster spring is not by sight, but by sound. When your garage opens or closes, a broken TorqueMaster will sound like a rollercoaster clicking its way up a hill. Additionally, if you were able to get the door open, you will not be able to get it down. This is a safety precaution to ensure the door does not crash to the ground if the springs lose tension.
All spring repair and replacement jobs can be difficult and dangerous work. Only a trained and qualified technician should make repairs to broken garage door springs. If you are experiencing problems with a broken spring, call Hollywood-Crawford Door Co. We’ll get your garage door up and running smoothly and efficiently.
