All garage doors require springs to guarantee they can close and open safely and efficiently. Whether you intend to purchase new springs to replace your old ones or are trying to find out more about them, it’s crucial to understand the type of garage door springs you have and the options available in case you’re looking for a replacement. Garage door springs come in two major types; torsion springs and extension springs. Almost every garage has either of these two springs or both. Both torsion and extension springs have distinctive features, functionalities, and advantages.
Here we review them to see which one is better:
Torsion Springs
These are helical springs that apply torque force. What’s a torque force? This is a turning force that initiates rotation. This simply means a torsion spring can retain or discharge energy to keep the garage door in position or aid you when opening or lifting it. Additionally, torsion springs can be built to function in a counter-clockwise or clockwise motion. They are becoming more popular, thanks to their broad scope of benefits, including how they operate. As opposed to contracting and extending, torsion springs twist; thus, they serve you for a longer period.
Pros
- They do not extend completely when working
- They have an extended lifespan
- Torsion springs facilitate a steady and precise motion when closing or opening.
- They need a few parts to install
- They rarely call for adjustments
- Low maintenance
- They keep the garage door in balance
- Garage doors fitted with extension springs can be transformed to use with torsion springs.
- When they break, they are typically less hazardous compared to extension springs.
Cons
- Torsion springs will bite a huge chunk off your budget
Physical appearance
Torsion springs comprise tightly bound coils and come in different wire lengths and sizes. They’re fitted above the door’s opening and turn & coil when force is exerted on them when lowering and lifting the garage door.
Extension springs
These are fitted at the two ends of different garage door parts. Extension springs work to help lower and lift the door. It achieves this by offering a corresponding force to the part that stretches it from its initial placement. These springs do this via extension as opposed to rotation. When the parts of the springs are linked to pull apart, the spring attempts to haul the parts back together. While these springs will function as expected, they don’t come with as many advantages as their counterparts.
Pros
- Extension springs are more affordable than torsion springs
Cons
- Garage doors fitted with extension springs need more parts which could fail.
- They are supposed to be coupled with safety cables to prevent them from turning into a projectile if they break.
- After substantial wear, cables and springs might break, which can occur when the door is open, in motion, or closed.
- They don’t hold much weight.
- Their lifespan is a bit short compared to torsion springs.
Physical appearance
Extension springs feature loops and hooks on both ends. These loops and hooks come in handy when you want to attach the springs to various garage door components. Generally, they are situated on two of the upper horizontal trajectories on the two sides of the door to offer similar support on both sides.
Which one is better?
Torsion springs are better than extension springs and are the better option, regardless of your garage door. They’ll offer a smoother opening and closing motion. They are more robust and long-lasting. On the other hand, they are more expensive, though they’ll serve you for approximately 20,000 cycles. However, extension springs will go for a maximum of 10,000 cycles. For instance, if you open it two times daily, extension springs will serve you for 14 years, while Torsion springs will last 28 years, which makes it worth every penny.
Furthermore, torsion springs are safer as they are less susceptible to snapping abruptly or breaking down. When it comes to garage doors, safety is key as it allows you to protect your family and yourself. For this reason, you should ponder going for torsion springs.
Lastly, when an extension spring breaks, it is more hazardous than its counterpart breaks. So, when you hear a broken extension spring, be cautious as it is extremely dangerous. There might even fly through the garage windows or vehicle windshields, and they can cause severe harm and even death. So, there you have it, a comparison of torsion and extension springs and the better option.
