Spring system vs. pulley system

Your garage door has springs that do the heavy lifting and lowering each time you use it. How much do you really know about your springs? Do you know where they are or what kind they are? Maybe you do but here at Peach Tree City Garage Door Repair we often get questions about the different types of springs and their advantages and disadvantages. Do you really need to know about this? In a way, yes! We depend on our garage doors for security, convenience and looks. Your garage door is one of the most noticeable things about your house as seen from the street or sidewalk. Since it’s the largest door and appliance in the whole property, it needs to work well and appear just as good. What does this have to do with your springs? Everything! A broken spring can give your Peachtree City, GA garage door a sloppy, sagging look that literally screams “disrepair and neglect.” Why put up with that? Besides, you can’t use your garage door with a snapped spring anyway. While our experienced garage door repair technicians advise against trying to repair or replace your own springs, you should at least know a little about them so that you can understand their function and the role they play in your day to day garage door operation.

Torsion garage door springs (spring system)

Your torsion springs are not always called that. Often, they are referred to as spring systems as opposed to the pulley systems which are really known as extension springs. It’s much like the terms soda, coke and pop; all mean the same thing and are used interchangeably. If you have a newer opener system for your garage door it is likely that you have torsion springs. How can you tell? Easy – if you have the torsion variety, they can be located over the top of your garage door on the inside. If you see a torsion spring bar mounted over the top of your garage door, then you have the spring system. The springs themselves are mounted on this bar that has a drum at each end with cables that connect with the bottom bracket at each end of your garage door. When your garage door moves up and down, these cables move up the length of the garage door around the drums. The strength to open and close the garage door is provided by the springs and the drums and cables actually do the lifting. Spring systems like these come in different sizes which correspond to the weight and size of your garage door and all of its components. These torsion springs cost a little more than the extension spring variety but they do last longer; often, twice as long. For instance, most torsion springs have a life cycle of 15 to 20 thousand cycles. A full cycle is one garage door opening and one closing. So if you use your garage door an average of 4 times a day, you will go through approximately 1460 cycles a year. 

Extension Garage Door Springs (pulley system)

The other main type of springs category are your extension springs. Many prefer these springs for their affordability. While they do cost less than their torsion counterparts, they don’t last as long with the same usage. Instead of 15 to 20 thousand cycles, these springs tend to last for about half of that. They are often referred to as the pulley system springs for the simple fact that they use pulleys to raise and lower your garage door. Unlike torsion springs, these pulley system springs are not at the top of your garage door. Instead, they are located on either side (on the inside) are vertical instead of horizontal. This system makes use of pulleys and cables to lift and lower your garage door. In order to achieve safe and smooth operation, your springs need to be balanced properly and in good working condition. At our local garage door repair shop we recommend servicing both springs as they tend to break down at about the same time. We do not recommend do it yourself spring service for either torsion or extension springs; both are dangerous to work with and pack tremendous power when they snap. Every year people are needlessly injured when they attempt spring service on their own. Play it safe and call in the pros for any kind of garaged door spring repair, replacement or service.

So, which is best for you?

Since you’ve read this far, you are either interested in learning about garage door springs or you need to get service for the ones you have. If you just have questions and would like additional details, we invite you to call our shop and speak to our staff. We offer no cost, no obligation information on our many spring services that include sales, service, installation and maintenance. If you don’t live in the local area, you can call a full service garage door repair shop in your town and try and get your answers from them.

If one or both of your springs are in need of replacement or repair, we urge you to call and get professional advice from the experts that deal with springs on a regular basis; after all, garage door repair techs are see torsion and extension springs at their best and worst, so they know! As for which springs are best for you; that depends on your budget and goals. Are you keeping your house for a while and want durable, safer springs that require less maintenance and care? Or, are you more budget minded or thinking of renting out your property? If safety is a concern, go with the torsion springs as they last longer and aren’t as forceful when they snap. Budget minded folks often opt for extension springs as they do cost a little less but you will have to replace them sooner. Both kinds of springs are effective and can last for years with minimum care and service so the choice is yours to make.