Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Garage door torsion springs are pretty important as they help in the opening and closing of garage doors. There are different types and sizes of torsion springs, and the ability for them to be a perfect fit for your garage door largely depends on the type of garage door you use.
The importance of garage door torsion springs cannot be overemphasized. You will find it hard, if not impossible, to open your garage door if the torsion springs are faulty. You need to install the right size of torsion spring if you want to open your garage door with ease.
What Size Torsion Spring Do I Need for My Garage Door?
Before we get right to the size of torsion springs you need for your garage door, you must know that there are different types of garage door torsion springs. These differences in the type of torsion springs largely affect the size of torsion spring you should choose for your garage door. Here is a list of the type of torsion springs you can get for your garage door.
1. Standard Torsion Springs
This is the most popular torsion spring in the industry today. The standard torsion spring is widely used by different households across different states. It is the most common torsion spring in residential areas.
The standard torsion spring is used to lift garage doors that are not particularly heavy. If you use a light garage door, one standard torsion spring will suffice. On the other hand, if the garage door is s little heavy, you can use 2 standard torsion springs with each positioned inside the bracket from the top of the garage door.
2. Ez-set Torsion Spring
Like the standard torsion spring, the EZ set torsion spring is another type of torsion spring that is used in most residential areas. While it is similar to the standard torsion spring, you must know that the hardware is quite different.
Ez set torsion springs are mounted to winders at the shaft which is usually 1 in diameter. The black winder usually has the letter r or l on it. This letter corresponds to the left or right side of the garage doors.
Like the standard torsion spring, you can install one or two EZ set torsion springs, depending on the weight of the garage door.
3. Torquemaster Garage Door Torsion Spring
This is another garage door torsion spring you will find in the market. While the torque master garage door torsion spring is more expensive when compared to other garage door torsion springs, you must know that this torsion spring offers a lot more features, as it is relatively safer.
The torque master garage door torsion spring is usually fastened inside the shaft using a stationary cone. This cone matches the shape of the shaft. The cable drums of the garage door usually support the end of the shaft. The shaft has a circular piece that fits into the entrance of the bracket. This is used to open and close the garage door.
4. Standard Commercial Torsion Springs
The standard commercial torsion spring is just like the standard torsion spring, however, the major difference is in the makeup and the weight of the garage door it can carry. Unlike the standard torsion spring, the standard commercial torsion springs have different systems such as duplex, linear, mixed, and triplex.
These torsion springs often weigh more and are used to lift heavier garage doors. There are also other torsion springs such as the steel rolling torsion springs and the self-storage roll-up door springs. These types of springs are mainly for industrial and much heavier garage doors.
How Do I Determine the Type of Torsion Spring I Need for my Garage Door?
Determining the type of torsion spring you need for your garage door is quite important as it allows you to know the size of torsion spring you should get. Here are the methods to determine the type of torsion springs your garage door needs.
1. Measure the Existing Spring
This is the first thing you should do if you are looking to know the type of torsion spring you should get for your garage door. You must take your time to measure the existing garage door torsion spring as it saves you the stress of choosing the wrong ones for your garage door.
There are 5 important things you should watch out for when measuring your current torsion springs, they are the wire size, inside diameter, length, wind, and type of end. All these things allow you to know the perfect type of torsion spring you should get for your garage door.
2. Weigh your Door with an Analog Scale
If you do not want to go through the stress of measuring your garage door, you can easily weigh your garage door with an analog scale. By doing this, you determine the weight of the garage door, which allows you to know the type of torsion spring you should get.
Weighing your garage door is pretty easy. All you need to do is disable the automatic feature of your garage door. Pull the pulley to open your garage door manually. Call an individual to help you lift the garage door from one side, lift the garage door, and put the analog scale underneath the door. Once you do this, you can determine the weight once your garage door rests on the scale.
3. Check the Manufacturer and Model Number
The manufacturer and model number is another method you can use to ascertain the type of torsion sprigs you should get for your garage door. You can simply remove the torsion spring from your garage door and check for the manufacturer and model number.
Once you do this, you can go to the market and other the same model from the same manufacturer. This saves you the stress of having to do guesswork. You can also check the model and manufacturer from the carton or manufacturer’s manual.
What Size of Torsion Spring Do I Need for my Garage Door?
Different things affect the size of the torsion springs you need for your garage door. Here is a list of things that lets you know the size of torsion spring you need.
1. Wire Size of the Torsion Spring
The wire size of your torsion spring is a very important thing as it determines the type of torsion spring you need for your garage door. You can easily determine the wire size by measuring the first 20 coils and dividing them by 20. The result you get is the wire size of your torsion size.
Most torsion spring wire size range from .187 to .192, .207, .218, and a lot more. The inside diameter also determines the outcome of the measurement of your torsion spring. Once you get the measurement of the wire size, you can get a torsion spring with the same wire size for your garage door.
2. Inside Diameter
The inside diameter of torsion springs is usually measured in inches and it is what determines the ease at which the spring fits into the space. It is also what determines the amount of torque your torsion spring will produce.
Getting the measurement of the inside diameter is pretty important. If you are not sure about getting the right measurement, you should call an expert to help you out for a little fee. You can check the markings or the stationary cones for the inside diameter.
The type of garage door you use largely determines the type the inside diameter of the torsion spring. Residential garage doors usually require a torsion spring with an inside diameter of 175 or 134 for 1/3-4. On the other hand, commercial garage doors usually require torsion springs with an inside diameter of 334 or 375 for 3-3/4.
3. Overall Torsion Spring Length
The overall length of your torsion spring is another thing that determines the size of the torsion spring for your garage door. The overall length of your torsion spring is pretty important, as you will not be able to lift your garage door if you have an undersized length of torsion spring.
Measuring the overall length of your torsion spring is pretty easy. All you need to do is unscrew the screws holding your springs and connect the spring ends together. You should be able to get the length of the spring when you do this.
You must know that you cannot get an accurate measurement if the garage door is open. The garage door must be closed if you want to get the right measurement.
4. Wind Direction
The wind direction of your torsion spring is another factor that determines the size of the torsion spring for your garage door. Although the wind direction can be very confusing to measure, it is still pretty much possible to get the right measurement.
You must open the garage door to check the wind direction. Check the 2 springs which are placed at the top middle of your garage door. When you open your garage door, the left spring should point in a clockwise direction while the right spring should point in an anti-clockwise direction.
Why Does Garage Door Torsion Spring Size Matter?
The size of your garage door torsion spring is pretty important, as it is what determines the ease at which you open your garage door. Here are reasons why the garage door for your torsion spring is very important.
1. Springs that Are too Big Can Destroy the Garage Door Opener
More often than not, many people have complained about their garage door openers getting ruined or destroyed. If your torsion springs are too big for your garage door, it will likely affect and destroy your garage door opener.
The torsion spring will put the garage door up too quickly. These quick movements lead to the quick wearing out of the garage door opener.
2. Small Torsion Springs Can Make It Hard to Open the Garage Door
Apart from torsion springs that are too big, torsion springs that are too small can also affect the garage door opener. If the springs are too small, you will find it difficult to open your garage door. This is because the torsion spring does not have enough power, energy, or force to pull open the garage door.
3. The Ideal Fit Makes your Garage Door Opener Work Perfectly
The torsion spring that is an ideal fit in size for your garage door will make the garage door opener work efficiently. Since the size is just perfect for the garage door, you will have no problems opening and closing the garage door. You should also know that a good torsion spring alone makes the garage door opener last longer.
Conclusion
There are different things you should consider before choosing the size of torsion spring for your garage door opener. These things which include the type of torsion spring system your garage door use has been discussed in this article.
We have also discussed other important things such as the factors that determine the size of torsion springs for your garage door and a lot more. Simply read through to get all the necessary information you need.
