When you look at your garage door, you likely have one of two types of garage door springs. Extension or torsion. 

You may not give garage door springs much thought but the reality is, they are one of the most important parts of your home. The inconvenience is tangible when a garage door spring breaks, malfunctions, or needs maintenance. 

Without garage door springs in Ohio, your garage door would be nearly impossible to open. Most often than not when we get a call as an overhead door company from a residential home with a garage door not working, it’s because of the springs. 

So when it does come time to replace your garage door springs, which is the best option? Extension or torsion springs? Let’s Take a look.

What Are Garage Door Springs?

As we mentioned above, garage door springs are vital to the function of your garage door. The springs are really part of the garage door operation that does all the heavy lifting. The average garage door weighs 150 pounds, which certainly would not be easy to open and shut without a little help. 

Garage door springs make lifting this heavy load possible using a mix of mechanics and forces to overcome gravity. 

The Two Types of Garage Door Springs

When you look up at your garage door, you can likely easily spot the springs. They are metal coils just as you would envision any spring to look at. There are, however, two different types of springs used in garage doors based on their position and how they function. 

Extension vs. Torsion Spring

So what’s the difference between the two and how do I know which type my garage door uses?

Appearance and Location

The location of your garage door springs is one of the easiest ways to differentiate between the two. Extension springs are placed on either side of your garage door. If you watch, these springs will compress as the garage closes and extend as it opens. 

Torsion springs usually only include one spring located in the center above your garage door. These springs are usually covered so you may not be able to observe the compression or extension of them. 

torsion springs end in pieces called cones, whereas extension springs end in loops. 

Operation

Other than how they look and their location the other biggest differentiating factor between the two types of spring is how they function. 

As their names imply, torsion springs use torque, while extension springs use the build-up of energy in their springs to lift the garage door.

  • Extension springs: An extending spring is attached to cables that will pull your garage door open. These springs retract as the door is opened, pulling the cables at a constant speed that counters the door’s weight. These springs extend again when the door closes, using the stored energy to gently release the door back to its original position. 
  • Torsion springs: Torsion springs operate using torque. A twisting, rotational force creates the torque. The torsion spring mounts above your garage door on a tube, and cables are connected to the spring and wired to the bottom of your garage door. As your garage door opens, the spring unwinds in a twisting motion. This torque is transferred to the cables into a linear force as they pull the door open. When the door closes, the springs wind to force the door down again. 

If you are able to observe your garage door springs’ location, appearance, and how they operate you should be able to identify which type of spring your garage door uses. If you aren’t sure you can always contact our team of garage door professionals at Springfield Overhead Door. For garage door spring repair or replacement, we have you covered!