What are the Parts of a Garage Door

Parts of a Garage Door

The garage is an essential part of any house. Your garage can improve curb appeal and the overall value of your home. Even if you use your garage door every day, you might not know much about how the garage door system works. When you learn more about the components of a garage door and how they operate, you’re better prepared to face potential challenges and make the best choices for your home.

Components of a Garage Door System

Garage door systems vary, but most have the same essential parts and pieces. Here are the primary components of the typical garage door:

• Door: The door itself is the most prominent part of any garage system. Garage doors, also known as sections, are the panels that serve as the actual barrier between your garage and the outside world. These panels come in various sizes and styles to suit your preferences, including sectional, retractable, roll-up and more. You can choose from materials like steel or aluminum and nearly any color you can imagine.
• Opener: Your garage door opener is a central component of the system’s opening mechanism. The operator is a small box mounted on the ceiling that contains a motor and a small computer. Garage door openers come in several brands and styles, but they all require electricity to open and close the door.
• Springs: Along with the opener, garage door springs provide much of the power needed to open the door. Springs counterbalance the garage door’s weight, harnessing elastic energy to reduce strain on the operator or anyone manually lifting the door. There are two types of garage door springs. A torsion spring is placed above the door, while extension springs run along the side of the horizontal tracks.
• Tube: Only systems with torsion springs have a tube shaft. The tube shaft is a metal bar mounted above the garage door that keeps the torsion spring in place. The spring wraps around the tube and transfers its power to the drums.
• Drums: Drums are also only present on garage doors with torsion springs. Garage door drums are like pulley wheels that sit on either end of the tube shaft and connect to the cables. When the torsion spring releases energy, the drums rotate and cause the cables to extend or retract, depending on whether the door is opening or closing.
• Cables: Garage doors have several types of cables, including torsion spring cables, extension spring cables and safety cables. Metal cables primarily connect the bottom of the garage door to the drums and pull the door up as the lift mechanism is activated. 
• Tracks: Tracks and rollers keep the door on a set path. Metal tracks and small wheels make sure the door stays in place every time it opens and closes. These tracks ensure proper alignment and safe operation. Many doors won’t open if they come off the tracks as a safety feature.
• Safety sensor: Motorized garage doors are useful tools, but they’re also potential safety hazards due to their size and weight. Federal standards require every garage door installed after 1992 to have safety sensors. These sensors sit a few feet above the ground on either side of the garage door. If they detect something in the door’s path as it closes, they automatically halt the door to prevent injuries.
• Additional features: Every garage door system is different, and some have additional features, such as emergency cords, locks for security and struts and seals for extra support or reinforcement.

When Do I Need Garage Door Parts?

If you use your garage every day, your garage door system experiences a lot of wear and tear. Over time, constant use can erode various parts of the system and lead to problems. Proper maintenance can extend the life of your garage door components, but when a major problem arises, you need a professional to quickly and safely address the issue.

At Asheville Garage Door, LLC, we offer garage door installation, service and sales. Our team of skilled technicians is available to assist you with a range of residential and commercial garage door issues or to install a new door at your home or business. 

Garage Door Service and Installation in Asheville, NC

Learn more about garage door pieces and how Asheville Garage Door, LLC, gets our customers the best products and services available. Get a free estimate from our team or request a service appointment today!

How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last?

How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last?

Garage door springs are a central component of every garage door system. These springs help your door function properly every day, but how much do you really know about them? A broken spring is one of the most common issues with commercial and residential garage doors. Learn more about the average lifespan of garage door springs and when you should replace them.

What Are Garage Door Springs?

Garage door springs are a basic part of any garage door. Springs provide the lift necessary to open and close the door. Most residential and commercial garage door systems use either torsion or extension springs.

Torsion Springs

Garage door torsion springs use mechanical energy and torque to lift and lower the door. These springs wrap around a horizontal bar, which is mounted on the wall above the garage door. The torsion springs tighten when the door is closed and loosen when the door opens.

Extension Springs

Another common type of garage door spring is the extension spring. Garage doors that use an extension spring system have two springs that run along the side of the horizontal tracks and provide equal support on each side. The tightly coiled springs are attached at both ends to other garage door components.

Why Do Garage Springs Break?

Broken springs are a common problem among garage doors of all kinds. There are several reasons why torsion and extension springs break:

• Age: Every time you open or close your garage door, it puts pressure on the springs. This constant use can lead to deterioration over time.
• Rust: External materials also contribute to the decline of garage springs. Rust, dirt and debris accumulate over the years, speeding up the deterioration process. Regular maintenance can help prevent rust buildup and extend the life of your springs.
• Excessive pressure: If your garage door system relies on one torsion spring instead of two or isn’t suited to your door, the excessive pressure can wear down the springs and reduce their expected lifespan.

Garage Door Spring Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of your garage door springs depends on several factors, including the type of spring, your garage door system and how often you use it. The typical lifespan for most springs is about 10,000 cycles or three to five years.

If your springs are approaching this age or you begin to notice changes in their appearance or function, it might be time to consider new garage door springs. It’s better to replace your springs early than to wait until after they break.

Call Asheville Garage Door Today

If you need to replace your garage door springs in Western North Carolina, call Asheville Garage Door, LLC. With over 25 years of experience, we’re the premier garage door installation, repair and service company in Buncombe County.

Our experts provide professional service and high-quality parts for projects of any size. We’re so confident in the quality of our work that we offer full-year warranties on parts and labor for new installs. Contact our team with any questions or call us at 828-255-0830 to get a free estimate from our garage door experts and replace your garage door springs today!