Your garage door might need spring repair if it's unbalanced, jerky when opening, difficult to open manually, or noisy (grating, banging). Uneven door panels or a slow response from the opener can also be signs. Don't attempt to fix springs yourself - it's dangerous. Call a professional for repairs.
A broken spring can cause the garage door to jerk erratically as it opens and closes. Weak springs can even cause the door to slam shut since the spring's tension isn't enough to support and dampen the door.
The most common reason your garage door springs break is wear and tear. 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.
Expect to spend $120–$350 to replace your garage door spring, including material costs and professional installation. While these heavy-duty springs are built to last, they'll eventually need replacement due to wear and tear. Garage door spring replacement isn't your average DIY project, either.
Over time, these springs can stretch out and lose their tension. This can lead to a grinding or scraping noise as the door opens or closes.
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 help homeowners who are interested in learning how to replace a garage door spring, let's take a closer look at how residential garage doors operate.
The tracks, rollers, hinges and springs of your garage doors face significant stress and will need the most frequent lubrication. In general, all moving parts (i.e. garage door springs, rollers, hinges etc.) will need lubrication often – every three months or possibly more with heavy use or in some climates.
If your car has a broken coil spring, you'll likely hear clunking, squeaking, or creaking noises when driving over bumps or uneven ground.
As professionals in the industry, we advise you do not attempt to open your garage door if the spring is broken.
Proper maintenance is key to extending the life of your garage door springs. Here's how to maintain them and know when professional help is needed. Apply Lubrication Regularly: Lubricating your garage door springs helps reduce friction and noise.
Torsion springs should be wound four quarter turns per foot of door height, plus an extra two turns. Once you're done winding your springs, keep a winding rod resting on the garage door header and tighten the set screws on the spring with a socket wrench.
One possible cause is damage to the torsion springs. Torsion springs are responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the garage door, making it easier to open and close. Over time, these springs may become worn out or damaged, causing the door to feel heavier or not open at all.
While WD-40 has many valuable applications, it is not recommended to use it on your garage door's springs. 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.
There's no need to use too much of it – a single spray should be enough. Open and close your garage door to see if the garage door hinges are still making noises and apply additional lubrication as needed. If there's still a noise coming from them, you might need to replace your garage door hinges.
Teflon and silicone lubricants can be sprayed onto the springs, rollers, and hinges on the door. The spray works its way through the springs, rollers, and hinges enabling a smooth, friction-free operation. RECOMMENDATION: Lubricate your garage door twice a year. Only spray visible moving parts that are easy to reach.
Most garage door companies will offer a better price if you choose to replace both springs at the same time, so as far as cost is concerned replacing both springs is often a smart long-term financial move but it is not necessary if you prefer a lower cost up-front.
We have a full range of garage door parts, such as brackets, locks, springs and cables, available at Lowe's.
Rumbling noises: If you hear loud creaking, popping or banging noises when you open or close your garage door, this could be a sign that the springs need tension adjustment. These noises may be caused by loosened springs or even a totally broken springs struggling to support the weight of the door.
You'll pay between $150 and $350 for a single garage door. Costs could potentially run as high as $500 if you have to replace springs for several doors or have to make related repairs.
Corrosion and Wear: Environmental factors such as moisture, chemicals, and abrasive particles can corrode or wear down the spring material. This degradation weakens the spring and results in a permanent loss of tension.