What Are Torsion Springs and How Do They Work?

Almost every home in Vancouver with a garage has a garage door, and most of them rely on torsion springs. Garage doors are heavy and have lots of moving parts, so springs eventually wear out. Here's how they work and what to do when one breaks.

What Are Torsion Springs?

Torsion springs are tightly wound steel coils mounted on a metal bar (the torsion tube) above the garage door opening. They're the most common and most reliable spring system on modern doors. They cost a little more than extension springs, but they're durable, tucked out of the way, need little maintenance and give smoother, more balanced lifting.

How They Work

• Each spring has a cone at each end. The stationary cone is bolted to a centre bracket above the door; the winding cone is used to wind the spring to the right tension.
• When the door is closed, the springs are wound tight and store energy. As the door opens, they unwind and turn the bar, which turns the cable drums at each end.
• The cables run from the drums down to the bottom corners of the door and lift it.

So the springs do the heavy lifting: they counterbalance the door's weight, and the opener only has to guide it up and down.

How Many Springs Does a Door Have?

Most single doors have one or two torsion springs; wide or heavy doors can have up to four. Each spring is sized to the door's weight and height.

How Long Do They Last?

A standard torsion spring is rated for about 10,000 cycles (one opening and closing), which is around 7 to 10 years for most households. Busy families can choose high-cycle springs rated for 20,000 cycles or more.

When One Breaks

• Replace both: if one spring on a two-spring door breaks, the other has done the same number of cycles and is close to failing too.
• Match the size: replacement springs must be the right wire size, length and diameter for your door, and both springs must match. Mismatched springs leave the door unbalanced and strain the opener.
• Check the balance: a properly balanced door stays in place when lifted halfway by hand with the opener disconnected.

Why Spring Replacement Is a Job for a Professional

Torsion springs are wound under enormous tension. If a winding bar slips or the wrong part is loosened, the spring can release that energy instantly and cause serious injury. Our technicians replace springs safely every day, with the right tools. New springs carry a 3-year warranty.

Book a Spring Replacement

GVA Garage Doors repairs, replaces and installs garage doors and springs across Vancouver. Book online or call 604.398.4009.