If you are researching companies for garage doors or just different options, you are going to come across a lot of different terminology. There are names you might not be too familiar with, and that’s okay, because the right people can give you the answers you are looking for. As we serve customers in the Lawrenceville, Georgia area, we often get asked about spring systems versus pulley systems, so we decided to put together information that could benefit property owners all over the place. If these are terms you have come across lately but are not sure what to make of them, keep reading. We are going to get into the differences between spring and pulley systems so you have a better idea of what you are looking at.

You might know what garage door springs are, but you might not know that there are different types of springs. There are extension springs and torsion springs. When one refers to a spring system, they are often referring to the torsion springs. On the other hand, when they refer to a pulley system, they are talking about – you guessed it – extension springs. Both are important – more accurately, they are critical, to the overall functioning of your garage door.

So what is a spring system?

A spring system, or torsion springs, are often found in new garage door opener systems. If you look for them, you will discover torsion springs at the top of the garage door. They are made up of a torsion spring bar, a drum, cables, and so on. They are mounted inside of the garage door on the header. They tend to run parallel to the door itself. When you go to open and close the garage door, you will see that the cables move upward along the door’s length. Torsion springs are important because they support the garage door’s strength when it comes to opening and closing it. Parts like cables and drums are responsible for the heavy lifting. And yes, lifting a garage door takes effort!

Torsion springs come in different sizes and this depends on the weight of the garage door. Compared to extension springs or a pulley system, this system typically will last longer, at least in terms of how many times the garage door is opened and how many times it closes.

So now let’s dive into the pulley system, or extension springs for your garage door.

What is a pulley system?

To put it simply, this is a way to refer to extension springs that work with your garage door. Just like torsion springs, their job is quite important. These springs might not have as long as a lifespan as torsion springs, but it doesn’t mean people don’t use them. These are springs that you would see on both sides of the garage door. They come in sets of two. They operate using cables and – you guessed it – pulleys so that the door can close and open as needed. In order for the garage door to open and close, the pulley system has to be functional and balanced. If one spring is bad in the set, then a repair expert is likely going to recommend replacing both of them at the same time. The reason being, the other will possibly fall apart soon. It’s a similar idea to track lights – if one goes out, and you have it replaced, it seems like just days later the other goes out. Extension springs loosen when the garage door opens and when it is closed, they stretch. Safety cables attached to the track on either side are used by extension springs. Support brackets are important to these springs, too. Their job is important and they need support because if they were to snap, they could do a lot of damage. This is the type of system you don’t want to be making repairs on by yourself unless you are a licensed and insured expert.

If you were researching companies for garage doors or just different options in terms of parts, you have likely come across a lot of different terminology. There are names you might not be too familiar with, and after reading this hopefully you have a better idea of some of these terms. With all the parts involved, it can get confusing, but it is good to know the difference between a pulley system and spring system.

We have gone through the differences between spring and pulley systems so you have a better idea of what you are looking at if you are looking to gather more information on these systems and parts. To sum things up…

There are extension springs and torsion springs that allow your garage door to function the way it is supposed to. When one discusses a spring system, they are often referring to the torsion springs. On the other hand, when they talk about a pulley system, they are referencing – you guessed it – extension springs. Both are critical to the overall functioning of your garage door. So it is important that these systems are kept in good shape.

We put this information together for readers everywhere because our team of garage door repair professionals often get asked about spring systems in comparison to pulley systems. We hope that no matter where you are located, this information has been beneficial to you. Just bear in mind that you can get accurate information by calling a licensed garage door company in your location if you do have any questions. We can’t emphasize enough the importance of hiring someone licensed if you are looking for someone to help you in any way with your garage door springs. Now that you know more about spring systems in comparison to pulley systems, see what type of system your garage door has if you didn’t already know. There are so many options with garage doors, it is always a plus to know what is out there! Thank you for reading!