Garage Door Spring Basics - What Every Homeowner Should Know

When it comes to your garage door, the springs do the heavy lifting, literally. Without properly sized and balanced garage door torsion springs, your opener would struggle to move the door at all. While they may look simple, springs are precision-engineered components, and understanding the basics can help you make smarter purchasing decisions. At Express Garage Door Parts, we’ve spent years perfecting the science of spring sizing, so you can trust that when you buy from us, you’re getting exactly what your door needs.

What Are IPPTs and Why Do They Matter?

Garage door springs are calculated on Inch-Pounds Per Turn (IPPTs) and this is one of the most important measurements in garage door spring selection. It refers to the amount of torque a spring generates for each full turn. The correct IPPT ensures your spring can lift your door’s exact weight safely and efficiently. Too low, and the door will feel heavy; too high, and it may fly up dangerously fast. This is why precise calculations, not guesswork are essential when choosing replacement springs.

How Size Changes Affect Spring Performance

Small adjustments in a spring’s size can dramatically change its lifting ability. For example, increasing the length of a spring without changing wire size makes it weaker. Lowering the IPPT and reducing lifting power. On the other hand, changing the inside diameter (ID) of a spring affects the torque output as well. Smaller IDs generally increase IPPT, while larger IDs reduce it. And even changing a single wire size, from .250” to .262” can have a major impact on lifting force, cycle life, and balance. This is why “close enough” isn’t good enough when it comes to garage door springs.

The Precision Behind Every Spring

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that two springs that look nearly identical can perform very differently. Spring design is a balance between length, wire size, diameter, and cycle life. A high-cycle spring may be longer in length to reduce stress per turn, but it must be carefully matched so it still balances your door perfectly. Without expert guidance, it’s easy to choose a spring that works—but works poorly, putting stress on your opener, cables, and bearings.

Your Trusted Source for Garage Door Spring Expertise

At Express Garage Door Parts, garage door springs are our specialty, period. We know the calculations, the trade-offs, and the fine details that turn a “working” spring into a perfectly balanced, long-lasting spring. Whether you’re replacing a standard spring or upgrading to a high-cycle option, we will walk you through the exact specs your door needs. Don’t guess and risk premature failure, Contact Us and let our experts help you purchase the right garage door torsion springs for your door, your budget, and your peace of mind.