About Garage Door Opener Torsion Springs
Posted by Mark on Friday, 28 May 2010
Tags: Garage Doors, Garage Door Service, Garage Door Opener, garage door prices
Garage door opener torsion tension springs are not generally
very expensive. They usually cost
between $25 and $50 USD. Many property
owners might prefer to install or replace torsion tension springs themselves so
as to save money on the fees charged by professional garage door services to do
the work. However, garage door opener
torsion tension springs are in fact one of the most dangerous parts of any
automatic garage door system, and should only be removed, serviced, and
replaced by trained professionals.
Garage door opener torsion springs are not universal. That means that different garage doors and
garage door openers need different sizes and types of torsion tension
springs. The necessary information about
which type of spring a given door and automatic opener system need is usually
found in the door and opener manuals.
When the manuals are not available, the existing springs can be measured
by the property owner, though this method has a risk of miscalculation and
error. For this reason, it is likely a
good idea to call in a professional garage door service to determine what size
and type of torsion spring is necessary.
As most property owners need to call in a service technician in order to
have the spring serviced or replaced, most technicians will determine which
spring is needed for the property owner.
Keep in mind that size is not the only important factor. Weight of the spring and of the door, as well
as the horsepower of the garage door opener are all vital factors in
determining what kind of replacement is needed.
The make and brand of both the door and opener must also be taken into
consideration.
The torsion tension spring is the garage door opener
component that pulls the door up, and holds it in vertical place and helps
secure it in the overhead storage position.
The name says it all-- torsion tension springs hold tension on the door. This makes them very dangerous. If the spring is detached from the garage
door while the door is not fully closed, the door will fall with a crash to the
ground. This is dangerous for people and
pets that are nearby and is also likely to cause the door to come off the
tracks entirely. Extensive, expensive
damage can be done to the door, the tracks, and the attached structure if a
heavy garage door is allowed to crash to the ground. Garage door springs also pose a safety hazard
when released from the door and opener as the tension on the spring can cause
it to snap backward once released.
Because these springs are very heavy duty, it is difficult to hold them
in a manner that guarantees they will not snap back.
For safety and proper garage door opener function, torsion
tension springs must be regularly serviced and replaced when they begin to wear
out or become damaged in any way.
Homeowners should avoid messing with these high tension springs. Professional garage door service technicians
are not only trained and highly skilled in handling torsion springs safely,
they also have tools and equipment to help ensure that safety is respected and
no damage is done. The minor additional
cost of hiring a professional saves the door, structure, and people from
damage.