Garage doors rely on tension springs to balance the door's weight, making it easier to open and close. Over time, these springs can lose tension, causing the door to become misaligned or heavy.
Signs of a faulty garage door spring include difficulty lifting the door, uneven movement, or a loud snapping noise. Avoid attempting to fix it yourself, as springs are under high tension and require professional replacement for safety.
As garage door springs grow weaker with use and age, the brunt of the door's load ends up being supported by the garage door opener. The added burden slows down the garage door opener, making it more sluggish than usual. The door itself will feel much heavier than usual if you attempt to open it manually.
When properly installed, your springs can last approximately 10,000 cycles. One cycle includes both the opening and closing of the door. Technically speaking, your springs should last between 7 to 10 years. However, this depends on how often you use your garage door.
A rule of thumb with springs is that four quarter turns equals a full revolution and the spring needs to be tightened a full revolution for every foot of door height (eg 7-1/2 foot door = 7 revolutions +2 (30 quarter turns).
Garage doors rely on tension springs to balance the door's weight, making it easier to open and close. Over time, these springs can lose tension, causing the door to become misaligned or heavy.
If your door is 7ft high then we recommend starting off at 31 Quarter turns on each springs. If you have an 8ft door then start at 34 Quarter turns. When you put your winding bars in your springs and push up this is a quarter turn, simply do this the recommended amount of times on each spring.
One of the most common garage door services is garage door spring repair. According to Angi, garage door spring replacement can cost between $150 and $350, including materials and labor. If additional repairs are required, you may spend up to $500. A double door generally costs an extra $15 to $30 per spring.
The best way to keep your garage door springs lasting throughout the years is to lubricate them 1-2 times annually with either white lithium or silicone-based spray. These can easily be found at a local hardware store.
Signs Your Garage Door Springs Need Adjustment
Here are some telltale signs to watch for: Self-Movement: If the door moves independently after being stopped, it shows excess spring tension. Heavy Feel: When lifting manually, a door that feels heavy suggests that the springs aren't properly counterbalancing the weight.
Whilst springs can and do lose tension over time, careful selection, proper use, and ongoing maintenance can ensure that you minimise the risk of this happening. If you have ever wondered 'Do springs lose tension over time?
When one garage door spring breaks, it's easy to assume you can save money and time by just replacing the broken spring rather than both of them. However, in order to ensure the safety of your garage door and avoid further damage, you should replace both springs immediately after one breaks.
Standard manufacturer springs typically last around 18 months. Oil-tempered springs have a longer lifespan of about 3 years. A1 Garage Door Service MaxLife springs offer the longest durability, lasting over 22 years.
A garage door can still open if the spring is broken, but it will take some manual effort. Using your garage door opener could burn out the motor since the broken spring makes the garage door heavier. We recommend not attempting to open your garage door if it has a broken spring.
While the most common reason garage doors springs break is general wear and tear, on average, garage door springs typically last between 7 to 9 years or approximately 10,000 cycles (one cycle is a full open and close of the door).
The hinges, rollers, and springs of your garage door see a lot of action. They need a lubricant that can stand up to heavy use and provide long-lasting protection. WD-40 doesn't cut it. It attracts dirt and dust, which can cause the tracks to get tacky and put extra strain on the opener.
There should be very little resistance and the door should remain open once you've lifted it all the way up. If the garage door is difficult to lift up or won't remain open, then there may be an issue with the springs. If you have an automatic opener system, then perform a force setting test.
Look for silicone sprays or white lithium grease when selecting a garage door lubricant. Aerosol sprays are your best option when it comes to injecting lubricant into small moving parts.
Standard manufacturer garage door springs have an average lifecycle of about 10,000 cycles, equivalent to approximately 48 months when used daily. Oil-tempered garage door springs show improved endurance, lasting for about 15,000 cycles, which translates roughly to a 10-year lifespan with regular use.
Too much tension: Your garage door will not close completely or will remain closed and blocked.
Replacing a garage door spring yourself isn't impossible, but it does require special knowledge about the springs and how a garage door works.
to know how much tension your springs needs, try to lift off your garage door a foot and a half and let it down to see if it slams that means you need to increase its tension and if it's not closing completely that means you need to decrease its tension.
On average, a professional technician can complete the replacement in about one to two hours. However, DIY replacements may take longer due to safety precautions and lack of experience.
Why do Garage Door Springs Fail? Most often, it's simple wear and tear. Rust can also cause springs to fail, especially if they are not regularly lubricated. Another reason for failure is that whoever installed your springs did not weigh the door and installed springs that are not rated for the door you have.