How Do Garage Doors Work?

Your garage door is the biggest entrance into your home and is an integral part of your home that you rely on daily. Even though you use it every day you probably don’t know how it works. Access garage doors have a team of experts on hand who have a range of knowledge on garage doors and who want to give you a sneak peek into the inner workings of garage doors. 

There are two types of systems with garage doors, one is an extension spring system and the other is a torsion spring system. An extension spring system uses springs that are attached to cables and in turn, are attached to the bottom corners of the garage door. The springs are stretched when the garage door is open and the energy stored in the springs lifts the doors. You can check these types of springs to ensure that there is a safety cable running through them. 

Torsion spring systems are the most common and are typically mounted horizontally above the door opening. The door will come down, cables that are attached to the bottom corners of the door cause the springs to wind up and this winding creates stored energy. Then your garage door is opened, the springs will unwind and the energy will help to lift the garage. 

Garage Door Systems consist of the following parts in addition to the door itself and the opener: 

• Rollers: When the door closes and opens the rollers allow for a smooth movement and glide along the tracks. Rollers are also fantastic for lowering noise levels. 
• Tracks: Garage door systems have three tracks, two on the edges and one in the middle where the operator is located. 
• The chain, belt or screws: Each opener system has a chain, a belt or a screw which is referred to as the drive operator. This works with the springs and motor to raise and lowers the door itself. 
• Curved Door arm: As the drive operator moves along the track so does the curved door arm.
• Torsion Spring: The torsion spring is the part of the garage door which serves as the centre spring above the door and is connected to the drums and cable to wind or unwind the door. 
• Drums & Cables: Located at the top of the garage door on their side the two drums turn as the torsion spring winds and unwinds. 
• Safety reversing sensor/photo-eye: The safety sensor is responsible for sensing anything or anyone who may be in the way of the door. It is an essential safety feature. 
• Emergency Release: If anything fails or your power goes out, you can pull the red emergency release cord hanging from the centre track to operate your garage door manually, this will save you from getting trapped. 

It’s All In The Details 

The Spring does all of the heavy liftings within the garage. Aesthetics aside, there are big changes within today’s 300-pound steel doors. They are now insulated, secure and come in a huge range of colours, styles and shapes. They are also heat resistant and air infiltrated.

Garage Door Maintenance 

Extending the life of your garage door is simple, with simple maintenance monthly you will extend the life of your garage door keeping it as good as new for years to come. A few tasks that can be carried out include: 

• Inspect wear & tear
• Lubricate moving parts 
• Clear the tracks 
• Keep the interior in tip-top condition 
• Test your auto-reverse safety mechanism 
• Lube up anything that moves 

Access Garage Doors supply and fit an array of garage doors in Cardiff. We also offer maintenance services to guarantee the top performance of your garage all year round. With years in the industry and a range of models to choose from to suit all budgets, get in touch with the Access Garage Door Team today for a free home visit.