An Overview of Essential Sectional Residential Garage Door Parts and How the System Works

Posted: Aug 01, 2012
Author: Doors by Nalley of Lake Norman, Inc.

Familiarity with your garage door parts and the general function of the system altogether may be very helpful both with general, periodic maintenance, as well as when it comes time to repair something.

The following is a brief overview.

Section Panels. The “door” part of the garage door, separated into sections and connected by hinges, which allow a rolling movement.

Opener. This machine is the driving mechanism behind the movement of the garage door. It hangs in the rear and from the ceiling, and contains within itself a small motor that either opens or closes the door. This motor by itself, however, does not have enough power to operate the movement of the very heavy door. Keep reading.

Spring System. There are two types of spring systems, both of which assist in the opening and closing of the garage door. Torsion springs (the more popular) run horizontally above the opening of the garage door and help to lift and lower the door. In contrast, extension springs run vertically up and down the sides of the garage door. These garage door parts assist the opening of the door by extending and contracting. Both types are connected to cables which wind or unwind around drums at either end of the door.

The Opener Carriage. This garage door part connects the opener to the actual door, and also stops the garage door from being opened manually. If the power is out, and you must open the door manually, you may pull the emergency release (located either on the opener carriage or the opener itself) to disengage the opener carriage.

Rollers. The rollers are located on the sides of the garage door, running vertically parallel. They are on a track that the garage door follows as it is being opened and closed.

Light Sensors. This pair of garage door parts is one of the most safety-essential. It is a laser functioning as a trip-wire, which, when broken during the closing of the door, reverses the direction of movement.