What is a Torsion Spring?
A tightly wound spring mounted on a shaft above the garage door opening that uses torque to lift and lower the door.
Torsion springs are the most common type of spring used in modern residential garage doors. They are mounted horizontally on a metal shaft (torsion bar) directly above the door opening. When the door closes, the springs wind up and store mechanical energy. When the door opens, that energy is released, providing the lifting force needed to raise the door. A standard residential torsion spring is rated for approximately 10,000 cycles (one open + one close = one cycle), which translates to roughly 7–10 years of normal use. High-cycle springs rated for 25,000–50,000 cycles are available and recommended for Canadian homes where the garage door is used frequently. Torsion springs are under extreme tension — typically 400+ pounds of force — and should only be replaced by trained professionals.