Is your garage door experiencing long-term movement issues (jumping up and down, difficulty moving along the track)? It is likely that your garage door spring is malfunctioning. Knowing where to look for the best garage door springs is crucial to saving money for home maintenance in the long run. There are two main types of garage door springs on the market. This guide will inform you the difference between the types, and how to tell which one is right for you.

Types of Garage Door Springs

The dangers of garage doors don’t seem significant until something happens and you are affected by them. The possibilities of doors falling down on children, adults, or cars can lead to significant financial, emotional, and physical damages. If you observe any malfunctioning of your door, contact a professional immediately.

Prior to getting a repair, you will need to identify which style of spring your garage door needs. Each style of spring is suited for a particular model of door which may depend on the complexity or age of your home.

Standard Springs

The most common garage door spring is the standard torsion spring. These look like standard coils or slinkies. They vary in length, width, and diameter and are typically very reliable across the board, providing roughly 10,000 cycles.

A cycle is the benchmark for measuring the durability of a garage door spring. One cycle is measured as a movement down and back up, your garage door opening and closing. You can calculate a rough estimate of the amount of time you have before you need to replace your springs.

Garage doors vary in their style and function, but a standard torsion spring is what standard garage doors are typically equipped with. There are dual-spring garage doors as well, so be sure to take note of the number of springs your garage door needs.

The cost of a standard torsion spring can run anywhere from 25 to 300 dollars. The higher-end models may be for specialty openers and garage doors, so don’t jump to the most expensive spring you can find.

High Cycle Springs

High cycle springs are typically a little more expensive, but you can get around 150 percent longer function out of them than the standard. The name “high cycle” states these springs’ primary benefit, they simply have a higher capacity for cycles.

There are a few additional benefits, namely that they are easier on the functioning of the garage door itself. Unfortunately, some older garage door models are not equipped to handle high cycle springs so it’s not an option for all garage-owners.

If you have a newer home and garage, it’s likely that you’ll be able to use high cycle springs. However, if your home is older make sure to check with a trained professional before making a purchase of these specialty springs.

 

Garage doors are touchy. They sometimes require a specialized touch that the common handyman can’t provide. Don’t wait until your garage door is broken. If you are unsure of your ability to perform maintenance on your garage door, be sure to contact a trained professional for a seamless experience, every time.