What Your Garage Door Is Made Of: All The Pieces And Parts Article

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What Your Garage Door Is Made Of: All The Pieces And Parts

Knowing how your garage door works is an important part of having one. There are several different parts that work together to keep the door in prime operating condition.

Author: Andrew Stratton

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Being able to identify these parts and knowing the function of them will help you to identify possible problems and keep your door working the way it should be.

Have you ever looked at your garage flap and wondered how it works? Or have you ever stood there, confused about all the different pieces? If it is ever time for a repair, it is good to know what you are dealing with.

The way a garage gate works is with springs. There is one large tension spring that is at the top of the flap and it is horizontal. This spring loosens as the entrance opens and tightens as the entrance shuts. This is called a torsion spring.

This spring sits on top of the center support, which is what provides the support your gate needs to open and close. This spring is a wound spring, which means that it is dangerous to touch or play with. It can snap and cause injury.

There are also extension springs that are mounted on either side of the entrance. These work by enabling your entrance to extend to its full open or closed capacity. Extensions springs are different than torsion springs, as they just expand and contract rather than resting in the wound position. The springs do 95% of the work of opening the entrance.

There is a motor that is there to power what the springs can't. The motor turns on and signals the springs to work, and when the door is closed, the motor pushes the door down, forcing the springs to stretch out.

The flap moves up and down on a track. The track is two or three parts and they line the ceiling of your garage. There are pulleys and wheels that move the door along the tracks, keeping it in place. The springs mentioned above are what move the wheels, and the tracks are there to guide the door to its proper place. There are typically wheels, or rollers, all down the sides of the door so that it is constantly in alignment.

Depending on the construction of your door, there will also be hinges and brackets attached to the panels of the door that enable the gate to fold into the shape it needs to be in so that it can open and close. There are also lift handles that are there to lift the door open or to pull it shut.

There are some hardware parts as well, such as cable drums, bearings, and all the screws and plates that work together to keep it working. Keeping these parts well maintained will keep your flap working for a longer time.

About Author

When it comes to selecting a functional and fashionable garage door, New Jersey stores give you the option to choose from the most energy efficient and stylish doors. Learn about what is right for your home, here http://www.aspengaragedoors.com

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