When you add everything up, you have the exact weight once done; you can then use two different size springs if it yields optimal balance. If you are a homeowner and the technician used two different size springs, don't be alarmed. What matters is that the garage door is balanced.
Does garage door spring size matter?
Springs That Are Too Small Can Make the Opener Less Effective. If the spring for the door is small, it can make the door too heavy. When someone tries to raise the door, it will fall back down instead of continuing to lift. A user unaware of the garage door issue could get hurt by the door falling shut.
Are all garage door torsion springs the same?
Most newer garage doors have two torsion springs, each of which must turn in a certain direction to lift and lower the door. However, when you look at the door from inside the garage, the left-wound spring will typically be on the right and vice versa.
How important is garage door spring length?
Possibly the most important step in measuring a garage door spring is to find the length. The length of a spring directly affects the springs winding capacity. For example, if you have a heavy garage door, you'll need a spring that is large enough to lift the garage door.Aug 5, 2020
Should garage door springs be the same length?
At times the garage door may be designed to take advantage of two different size springs which ensure optimal balance. However, if the door is not balanced correctly, it will either open too much or too little.
Can I put a longer spring on my garage door?
If your garage door springs have lasted less than five years, or if you plan to live where you are for many years, you may want to try the extra long life torsion springs. By using larger springs, you can, in most cases, quadruple your spring life while only doubling the cost of the springs.
How do I know what size garage door spring I need?
Measure the circumference of the cable drum, and measure the height of the garage door in inches. Divide the height of the garage door by the cable drum circumference, then add one. This is the number of turns that are on your spring. For example, a 14' high door is 168" high.
What do colors on garage door springs mean?
The color code on a torsion spring indicates whether it is a “right wind” or “left wind” spring, with black indicating right wind and red indicating left wind. Beyond that the torsion spring is color coded so that technicians can determine the thickness, or gauge, of the wire.Mar 9, 2018
How do you tell the right side of a garage door spring?
Look at the end of the spring to determine the wind direction. If the end of the spring points in the clockwise direction it is left-wound and if the end of the spring points in the counter-clockwise direction, it is right-wound.Dec 5, 2018
What happens if you put the wrong spring on a garage door?
When torsion springs are sized incorrectly, they can lead to safety issues. The garage door will not work as it should, and that could lead it to malfunction and potentially endanger users.