The springs of sectional doors are an essential component of any door. The proper functioning of the door depends on the quality and selection of the springs.
Usually, torsion springs are located in the door opening header. The main advantage of this type of solution is that residential doors can reach up to approximately 30 square meters, while industrial doors can reach up to approximately 40 square meters!
Torsion springs are also the most efficient and safest for balancing the weight of the door, especially compared to side springs, which are installed one per side in cheaper doors. Following the opening and closing operations and once their life cycles are exhausted, side springs expose the door to continuous stress as the load will no longer be properly balanced over time.
Whether torsion or side springs, we are often asked how to disassemble, load, and adjust sectional door springs. Let’s see it together!
How to Measure Sectional Door Springs
The data regarding the dimensions of sectional door springs can be easily found on the CE label of the manufacturer, generally placed inside the door, on the right or left of the panels, and included in the maintenance manual.
However, every sectional door is different: therefore, the springs that must counterbalance perfectly are also unique.
If the label is not present, you will need to personally obtain the necessary data once the broken spring is disassembled. However, disassembling and obtaining all the necessary data regarding the spring is very difficult. It is necessary to:
- Measure the INTERNAL DIAMETER (ID) of the old spring;
- Measure the WIRE DIAMETER (WD);
- Measure the LENGTH of the spring;
- Understand the ORIENTATION of the spring.
Loading and Adjusting Door Springs
Whether loading, adjusting, or installing the springs, you need to know that disassembly should be done only by qualified personnel, keeping unauthorized persons at a safe distance, for example, using safety tape.
When loading and adjusting the springs, make sure there is enough light, be in a stable position, and use the right tools to release the spring tension.
This is indeed a very difficult procedure for those not in the field, and should only be performed by expert personnel.
Care and Cleaning of Sectional Door Springs
We have seen how wear can compromise the functionality of the springs and the entire door, as well as how difficult it is for non-experts to load or adjust them. However, there is something we can easily do to ensure a prolonged lifespan for our sectional door: maintenance!
When springs break, the main reason is poor maintenance. To ensure that your door remains intact over the years and maintains better fluidity and quietness, it is important that all its components retain a certain level of lubrication, intervening with minimal maintenance even on the springs of sectional doors.
Learn how to clean and maintain them in our in-depth guide on Garage Door Maintenance.