* Longer life spans than nylon or other spring types
* They are the best choice for garage doors larger than 8 feet wide because their strength makes them able to lift a heavier weight and withstand the stress created from opening and closing heavier garage doors dramatically reducing the need for excessive retensioning required by newer, weaker materials like nylon.
* While extension springs are stronger than solid torsion springs, they are also less expensive and are available in a wider variety than torsion springs.
* They are the best choice for use with garage door openers. Solid tension springs and extension springs have a greater lifting force than other spring types, which makes them more efficient at handling heavier doors that require more power from your garage door opener to lift them up. Extension will generally work better because it provides more lift force when the door is fully raised, which allows the garage door opener to operate with less effort as it moves the door into its resting position.
* Solid torsion springs and extension springs can be hard to install. If you are not familiar with the proper way to do it or if you do not have the necessary tools, it is best to call a professional. Installing these spring systems incorrectly can cause injury.
* They are not as quiet as they once were because of the growing use of more lightweight materials like nylon instead of steel in manufacturing garage door opener springs. With lighter materials, the coils of these types of garage door openers tend to move around within their channels more than previously which makes them produce a louder and less consistent sound when operating.
* Steel springs require more maintenance than nylon because their metal composition oxidizes with the moisture in the air causing rust and corrosion that can hinder their performance.
* You need to replace them more often than other types of springs because they will wear out faster. While the work of replacing a steel torsion or extension spring might not be too hard, it is still difficult to do. In some cases, homeowners have to remove an old spring and get rid of it before they can put in a new one. The cost of labor involved with installing these torsion springs is also higher than other types because they use more tools and require special equipment to help make sure that everything works correctly.