© 2007 Door & Access Systems
Publish Date: Fall 2007
Author: Joe Hetzel
Page 60

ASK JOE HETZEL

Torsion Spring Terrorism?

In July, DASMA received the following e-mail. Below is our response and my additional comments.

The E-mail:
I just finished installing two new torsion springs on my garage door, but I think I did something wrong. I had one of the springs completely loaded when it slipped off the rod I was using.

After reading all your industry literature about how dangerous it was, I was expecting an explosion with flying shrapnel and everybody within 100 yards to be dead. But nothing happened. The spring unwound and I had to start all over again.

Your industry has quite a scam going, terrifying people into paying an over-priced technician to do something that anyone can do. You even have Home Depot and Lowe’s believing that torsion springs are more dangerous than chain saws.

DASMA:
Thanks for writing. We are very glad to hear that you were not injured in your mishap with your torsion spring.

We wish that our files had more stories like yours. However, the issues related to torsion springs are well documented and well known by every garage door manufacturer and garage door dealer in the country, as well as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Safety Council. The garage door is typically the largest moving appliance in the home, and its operation requires a high degree of spring tension.

That’s why we urge everyone, including you, to consult a trained door systems technician for repairs like this. It’s no scam—it’s just good advice.

Joe Hetzel:
I firmly believe that garage door manufacturers carefully engineer their products to perform their intended functions with value and safety in mind. Manufacturers also carefully draft all installation instructions, again taking safety into consideration. Warning labels, warnings in installation instructions, and many industry publications acknowledge the risk of injury and provide guidance on the means to avoid it.