Yes, a garage door can have only one spring, particularly if it is a lighter, single-car door. However, it is important to know the weight of your door and whether it has extension or torsion springs.
Yes, a garage door can operate with one spring, but whether it's a single spring system by design or a dual-spring system with one broken spring changes the situation entirely.
Your garage door likely only has one spring because it is a single-car door, or the builder used a cost-effective setup for a lightweight door. Single springs are also commonly installed on heavy double doors, relying on a thicker, high-tension spring to lift the entire weight of the door.
Yes, you can physically replace just one garage door spring. However, if you have a dual-spring system (where there are two springs on either side of the door), experts strongly recommend replacing both at the same time.
Replacing a garage door spring costs between $150 and $350 for a single spring, or $300 to $700 total to replace a pair, including professional labor and parts. The specific price largely depends on whether your door uses extension or torsion springs.
Yes, you can manually open a garage door with one broken spring, but it is extremely heavy (100–150+ lbs) and dangerous. Never use the automatic opener, as this can strip the gears or burn out the motor.
Garage door springs last about 7 to 10 years, equating to roughly 10,000 open-and-close cycles. Since each cycle is one full open-and-close, a household using the door four times daily will reach this limit in about 7 years. High-cycle springs (20,000+ cycles) can last 14 to 20 years.
Yes, but it is extremely dangerous and highly discouraged. A standard garage door weighs 100 to 300+ pounds. When a spring breaks, the door becomes total dead weight. Lifting it manually requires significant physical effort and carries a major risk of the door slamming shut or slipping off its tracks.
Yes, it is very common. Garage door springs are designed with a limited lifespan and will eventually snap due to normal wear and tear. They operate under extreme tension to bear the weight of the door, making them the most common part to fail in a garage door system.
No, you should not spray standard WD-40 on your garage door springs. While it may temporarily silence squeaking, standard WD-40 is a water-displacing solvent, not a true lubricant. It will break down existing grease, evaporate quickly, and attract dirt, which can cause premature wear and tear on your springs.
The Cost of Replacing Just One Spring
In some cases, the uneven tension can even cause damage to your cables, drums, or opener. By replacing both springs together, you reset your system, ensuring balanced lifting power, maximum cycle life, and fewer repairs down the road.
It is usually not worth repairing a 20-year-old garage door opener. The typical lifespan of a motor is 10 to 15 years. Because replacing the entire unit generally costs between $220 and $700, investing in minor repairs on a two-decade-old machine often leads to more breakdowns.
To tell if your garage door springs are bad or broken, look for a sudden loud bang in the garage, a visible gap (2-3 inches) in the spring coils, or loose and dangling cables. You can also perform a balance test by manually lifting the door halfway; if it slams shut, the springs have failed.
Your garage door likely only has one spring because it is a single-car door, or the builder used a cost-effective setup for a lightweight door. Single springs are also commonly installed on heavy double doors, relying on a thicker, high-tension spring to lift the entire weight of the door.
Typically, replacing just one spring is acceptable, but be aware that the vehicle may not sit as evenly as it did previously due to having one new spring and one old spring. This isn't a safety issue; it's primarily related to appearance.
Long Life Torsion Springs
By using larger springs, you can, in most cases, quadruple your spring life while only doubling the cost of the springs. You will also avoid extra work down the road. The industry standard is 10-15,000 cycles for new doors.
Q: How much should it cost to replace a garage door spring? A: The cost typically ranges from $150 to $350, depending on the type of spring (torsion or extension), labor costs, and your location. Torsion springs are generally more expensive but also more durable.
Yes, you can manually open a garage door with a broken spring, but do not use the automatic opener. The motor isn't designed to lift the 100 lbs to 200 lbs of dead weight and will likely burn out or strip its gears.
If your garage door suddenly becomes incredibly heavy to lift, it almost always means the counterbalance springs have failed or lost tension. Garage doors actually weigh between 130 and 350 pounds, and it is the springs (not the motor) doing 80% to 90% of the heavy lifting.
Garage door springs typically last 7 to 10 years or about 10,000 cycles (where one cycle equals opening and closing the door once). However, their real-world lifespan is primarily dictated by your daily usage frequency, maintenance habits, and the type of spring installed.
Yes, you can replace a garage door spring yourself if you are highly handy, but it is one of the most dangerous DIY projects a homeowner can attempt. The springs are under immense tension and an accidental slip can lead to severe injury, property damage, or worse.
You'll be able to tell your coil spring is broken by:
No, you should not spray standard WD-40 on your garage door springs. While it may temporarily silence squeaking, standard WD-40 is a water-displacing solvent, not a true lubricant. It will break down existing grease, evaporate quickly, and attract dirt, which can cause premature wear and tear on your springs.
Standard Wear and Tear (Cycle Life)
Many standard residential springs are rated somewhere around 10,000 to 20,000 cycles, and each full open-and-close counts as one cycle. This is the most basic answer to “Why does a garage door spring break?” It simply reached the end of its working life.
Yes, garage door springs usually come with a warranty, but coverage varies widely depending on the manufacturer and the company you hire. Standard manufacturer springs typically have a 1- to 5-year warranty, while upgraded or premium springs frequently come with "lifetime" guarantees.