The Science Behind Garage Door Systems

garage doorLike many parts of a household, garage door systems are often taken for granted. They simply are not something homeowners spend much time thinking about. A button prompts the doors to open and close and that is usually the extent of anyone’s involvement with a garage door system.

Garage doors, however, have an extremely important function. They protect your home from break-ins, damaging weather and intrusive animals like squirrels, possums and raccoon’s.

If you depart from your garage twice a day, on average, you are opening and closing your garage doors 1,460 times a year. That is a staggering amount of button pushes and perhaps an incentive to take the time to learn about the intricacies of your garage door system. Â

Your garage door tracks are located on either side of the door. All tracks are mounted with hardware. These tracks in most cases consist of two parts – the vertical track and the horizontal track. The tracks bend once they meet the garage door and continue downwards until they meet the ground. Mounting brackets secure these tracks to the sidewalls.

There are two main locations for the springs to your garage door. Extension springs will be located just to the outside of your vertical track. Torsion springs will mounted horizontally above the opening.

The size of the springs will depend on how large and heavy your garage door is. The momentum behind your garage door springs is what makes its movement possible.

As previously mentioned, a torsion spring is located in the center of your garage door near the ceiling. When opening the garage door, the springs will unwind and lift the door open. When closing the door, the springs will build tension and be ready for the next time you want to open the door.

Rollers and hinge points are located along the door to keep the doors opening and closing smoothly in the tracks.

Sensors are located just inches away from the ground on each sidetrack. These sensors reverse the closing of a garage door when the beam is broken. The sensors are actually mandated by federal law for your protection.

The most important thing to remember about the functionality of your garage door system is that it operates on extremely high tension. Never attempt to fix springs or cables on your own. Only a professional has the experience and proper tools to make those repairs. Browse our site to find a garage door repair technician near you!

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