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.
Signs of garage door springs that need repairs
The industry standard for a pair of torsion springs is usually 10,000 cycles, or about 6 to 10 years, depending on level of use. If they're broken, it's easy to tell simply because broken garage door springs will usually just snap in half or stop working altogether.
Visible Damage or Breakage: Inspect the garage door springs visually. Look for signs of wear, rust, fraying, or any visible damage. If you notice a broken or separated spring, it's a clear indication that it needs immediate replacement. Sagging or Loose Cables: Examine the cables connected to the springs.
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.
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).
One of the most important maintenance tasks in your home that you should never try to DIY is replacing a garage door spring. Because of the huge tension the springs hold, it is extremely dangerous to attempt a garage door spring replacement yourself.
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.
Replacing both springs at the same time offers a significant benefit. It reduces the risk of one spring failing shortly after the replacement, saving you from having to repeat the entire repair process.
It is clear that opening a garage door with a broken spring, whether manually or using the opener, is dangerous and potentially damaging to the door and the opener and can incur additional costs. The safety risks involved cannot be overstated.
The time it takes to replace a garage door spring depends on factors such as the type of spring, accessibility, and the skill level of the person performing the replacement. On average, a professional technician can complete the replacement in about one to two hours.
Though many factors contribute to a garage door's lifespan, a typical garage door will last around 15 and 30 years. Your garage door's lifetime will vary depending on the type and brand you choose. Factors like the weather, environment, usage and maintenance schedule also impact the longevity of your garage door.
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.
Out of all parts of your garage door, its springs experience the greatest stress and are the most prone to breaking.
The typical basic replacement spring warranty can range from 90 days to five years, while the labor warranty ranges from 30 days to one year regardless of the spring's cycle rating and parts warranty.
Garage door spring replacement costs $250 on average, with prices often ranging from $150 to $350 or more.
Replacing a garage door spring yourself isn't impossible, but it does require special knowledge about the springs and how a garage door works.
Damage to the Door Opener: Garage door openers are not designed to lift the full weight of a door without the aid of springs.
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.
How many springs does a garage door have? A garage door typically has one to four springs, depending on the size and weight. For example, residential single-car garages are often single-spring garage doors and residential two-car garages are often dual-spring garage doors.
WD-40 is a degreaser, which could remove remove lubricant and dry out the garage door springs. This can cause unnecessary friction in the springs and lead to early failure. While WD-40 has many valuable applications, it is not recommended to use it on your garage door's springs.
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.