Torsion spring systems, sized to your door

A double setup costs more, because it is two springs, both cable drums re-tensioned and a full balance test. The exact figure depends on the door's weight and the condition of the existing hardware. Both options are assessed on the diagnostic visit so you see the difference before any work starts, and on a heavy insulated door the extra usually comes back through longer spring life and less strain on the opener.

Most torsion jobs finish in two to three hours from arrival. Measuring the door, checking header clearance and inspecting the shaft takes roughly thirty minutes, installation and winding follow, and the balance test adds another fifteen to twenty. A double setup on a heavy two-car door can run slightly longer, and completion on the same visit is normal.

Only when the measured weight and available header clearance justify it. Single-spring setups work correctly on lighter single-car doors. We measure the door first and present both options with the reason behind the recommendation. Some low-ceiling garages here physically cannot take a double setup, and those get a correctly sized single spring instead.

Every torsion spring is wound left or right, and that orientation has to match its position on the shaft. A spring fitted the wrong way works against the system rather than with it, which causes immediate imbalance and can damage the cable drums within days. Wind direction is verified before any spring is tensioned: left-wound to the left of the shaft centre, right-wound to the right.

Cold makes steel contract, which adds stress on the mornings the door is already heaviest. Springs are rated for their cycle count at controlled temperatures, and a climate like this works through that rating faster. We choose wire gauge and cycle rating with cold-weather cycling in mind rather than door size alone.

A working opener can mask a worn or undersized spring for months; the motor compensates quietly until it cannot. The early signs are a door that feels heavy on the manual release or moves slightly slower than it used to. If it is a heavy insulated door that has run on a single spring for years, an assessment is worth booking before winter adds load to an already stressed system.