Does your garage door spring winding direction matter? This is quite a reasonable question to ask yourself if you are looking to replace your garage door’s springs. Torsion springs are springs fitted on doors to facilitate twisting and help you open and close doors without using much energy. Garage door springs wear out at a faster rate as compared to those of other doors, meaning they have to be replaced on a regular basis.
Garage Door Spring Winding Direction
To find the right springs, you need to do your homework well. Below are essentials you should know before replacing torsion springs for your garage door or making any other adjustments such as repairing a dented door.
Considerations When Choosing a Garage Door Spring
Choosing the right door spring is essential to achieve maximum functionality. It is much more than merely walking into a store and picking the first spring you lay your eyes on. Factors to be considered when choosing a torsion spring for your garage door includes door weight, spring configuration, and winding of the spring. They are discussed in detail below.
- Door Weight
Your garage door spring is highly dependent on the weight of your door. It is essential to determine your door’s weight so that you can choose the right spring. There are springs of different weight magnitudes in the market. Generally, they are color-coded for easy identification.
There are four different springs for door weight ranging from 120 to 180 pounds. Green is for the lightest door while orange is for the heaviest. Some companies use blue for both 90 and 140-pound springs. It is crucial to check your existing spring’s diameter and door weight if the color has faded away. You can measure the weight of your door using a regular scale.
- Spring Configuration
Springs are designed in a way that they can rotate, providing an angular return force. There are two types of configurations in torsion springs; single and dual. To get the right spring for your garage door, you need to know the difference between the two. A single spring has its stationary cone and bracket to the left or right of the spring. Conversely, those of a dual spring are in the middle. A stationary cone and bracket are responsible for maintaining the spring’s tension.
- The Winding of the Spring
This is pretty easy to determine. Basically, door springs can either wind to the left or to the right. Right-hand winding springs wind in a clockwise manner with the end wire on the right, while left-hand winding springs go anticlockwise with their end wire on the left. It is important to check the winding of your current spring to avoid buying the wrong one.
Bottom Line
Should you worry about your garage door spring winding direction when shopping? By now, you know the answer to this question. Ensure that you shop for the right torsion spring for your door and the height of it to avoid wastage and ensure that your door is working well and is cleaned, insulation is in good condition and the weather stripping is cleaned. If you find it difficult doing this by yourself, don’t hesitate to ask for help from a professional.