If you have a broken garage door torsion spring, and you are considering replacing it don’t worry we’ll guide you through.
What is the torsion spring? It is a device that lifts most of the weight of the garage door when using the electric opener. Torsion springs are wound up on a rod, and are for heavier doors, and there are typically one or two along the wall above the door. Don’t confuse the torsion spring with the extension spring, which is often used on lighter weight doors, one either side of the track.
When you are replacing one torsion spring, it’s a good idea to replace the other one as well, since the strength of the new one will almost certainly take out what’s left of the old one, and it’s much easier to do both at once than one at a time.
Measuring the old spring and ordering the correct spring to replace it. If you have one broken spring and one still working, measure the broken one, since a spring under tension will not measure correctly. If possible, try to find out the correct spring size from the manufacturer. If that isn’t possible, you will need to measure it yourself. You can find tables of standard spring sizes online, so once you measure, you can check your measurements to the table data. In order to order new springs, you will need to measure (as accurately as possible) your current spring(s).
Here is what you will need to measure, in inches:
- Wire size
- Inside diameter (90% of doors have a 2.0″ inside diameter)
- Spring length (how long each spring is)
- Spring orientation if ordering just one spring (left wound or right wound)
How to Measure for Wire Size
The only way to measure this accurately is to measure 10, 20, 30, and 40 coils and find a match on this chart. It is okay to round if you are very close. Wire size is the most important measurement. This determines the strength of the spring. It is not recommended to manipulate this to try and get a longer life or stronger spring.
How to Measure for Inside Diameter
It is very likely that, like 90% of Americans, you have a 2.00″ inside diameter. Please double check by measuring just the inside (interior) diameter of the spring. You can measure this while it’s still attached.
How to Measure for Spring Length
Spring length is the most flexible measurement, but you should do your best to be within 1-2 inches. The spring length may change slightly after years of use, weather, etc.
How to Determine Winding Orientation (left-wound or right-wound)
A general rule is that if the spring is marked with RED paint, then it is RIGHT wound. Furthermore, if the spring is on the left side when looking from within the garage, it is RIGHT wound. If you have a 2-spring system, you should replace both springs and you can skip this step.
The easiest place to find the new springs is to look for Garage Door Torsion Springs on Amazon.
To be safe and lower risks, it is best to hire a professional garage door specialist. The specialist can determine and address the problems of your garage door and propose a feasible solution. Feel free to contact us any time for help. Call Yuval at (215) 805-9209 or visit SecureGarages.com – don’t forget our Awesome Amazon Local Deal! Garage adjustment, reconditioning + safety inspection. and for another $34 we will replace up to 8 rollers! Mention Code: Secure4Sure10 to get another 10% off your order!
