A guide to your garage door parts
A garage door may not be the coolest tech in the area, but it surely isn’t just a modern 20th-century door either. It is not the most complicated thing on the planet. However, it is still made of a dozen essential parts out of which even a single part can compromise your system’s safety, and it surely is a challenge to fix something if you don’t know the related lingo. So here’s a basic guide to the essential parts used to assemble the door.
Garage Door
The star of the show, the largest and most visible part of the system. Usually, it comes in sections for single-car doors (8ft width x 7ft height), double car doors (16ft width x 7ft height) or custom doors of any size; the options and variety are nearly endless. Even the manufacturing material has many options like steel, wood, aluminium, fibreglass, etc. But steel is the most common due to its cost and strength.
Opener
The system’s right-hand component, the big box mounted above your car, lifts the door just by pressing a button like some sorcery. Other than the spring, nothing has been more revolutionary than the opener in this domain. The system and the opener go hand in hand. Not having an opener would be as bad as having a car with no parking space! And we all know how frustrating THAT is. With being one of the backbone components, it also is the most complex and the only one requiring electricity to operate.
Spring
Garage Door Springs are the Hercules, the heavy lifters of the system which raises and lowers your garage door. These are metal coils that come in two varieties: Extension and Torsion. Garage door Extension Springs run along the top portion of the track on each side, while torsion springs, the most commonly used, sit above your garage door. Just as the name suggests, the extension springs get their energy from being stretched while the torsion gets energy from twisted. Extension springs are being widely phased out of use, the cause being the torsion springs being significantly safer and long-lasting.
While both types are safer at a distance, they can be dangerous up close or servicing them. So, calling the local experts for Garage door spring repairs, service and installation are always recommended.
Tube shaft
Located directly above the door, the tube shaft holds the torsion springs in place so as the power of the springs can be transferred to the drum and raise the door. Hence Tube shafts are present only indoors, which have torsion springs. There is no need for this part of the door has extension springs.
Drums
Drums sit on both the ends of the torsion bar and spin as the door goes up or down, rolling up the cables or spooling them out. This help stabilizes the door and keeps the cables taught to maintain the entire system’s balance.
Cable
Each cable connects to the door at the bottom and the drum at the top. These are placed on each side of the door. They transfer force from the spring, which makes the door easier to lift. If one cable breaks, it will add stress on the other, eventually leading it to fail. Although a lot of pressure is found in the springs and the garage door is heavy, replacing garage door cable is relatively safe and easy.
Track
Like a railway track, the track is what ensures if everything is moving in the right direction. It houses the roller and guides the door as it raises and lowers. Made from steel and can be installed at any standard or non-standard heights depending on the space.
Rollers
The rollers move along the track and allow the door to travel smoothly. Comprised of steel or nylon, its composition material can affect the amount of noise it makes. Nylon is generally thought to be quiet, but on the contrary to popular belief, the number of bearings in each roller has a greater effect on the noise produced that what it’s made from.
Safety Sensors
All garage door openers have infrared sensors that detect if something is in the path of the door and stop it from closing on people or objects. These are small boxes placed less than 6 inches off the ground, one on each side of the door.
This is not at all an exhaustive list of every garage door system. Lastly, always remember, if you have any questions at all related to garage door repairs or require garage services, all our technicians and even out customer service representatives are well trained and ready to be of your assistance.
