Yes, you might be tempted to save some money on labor and parts by replacing just one spring, but you should replace both garage door springs when one breaks. Garage doors have two springs (left and right-wound), one on either side of the door. The springs exert the force that makes your door light enough to be lifted.
Make sure you always replace both springs when they snap, regardless of which side snapped first. A broken spring without a repaired or replaced second spring can be problematic – as the garage door will now be subject to extra pressure on only one side.
Even when installed at the same time one spring can outlast another spring by months even years. A torsion spring system can work just fine with one new spring and one old spring. Your professional installer can make the necessary adjustments so your door is balanced and runs smoothly.
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.
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.
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.
While replacing the spring yourself may save you money, a professional may be able to complete the job faster while avoiding the hazards that come with this chore. If you aren't comfortable doing this task yourself, you may want to hire it out the first time to observe how a professional makes the repair.
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.
Its a bit tricky the torsion springs are wound under considerable tension. If you slip you can have a serious gash from the tool. I always leave it to a professional since this is a once every 10–20 year repair and can be very dangerous if you don't do it just right.
No. In particular if you drive on rough roads and the one that failed is on the non driver side of the car you might be replacing a spring that has seen more than its fair share of abuse. But, given the fairly trivial cost of the spring itself in context this would seem to be a false economy.
We have a full range of garage door parts, such as brackets, locks, springs and cables, available at Lowe's.
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. But a commercial garage door with many panels might need up to four.
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.
Torsion springs are sturdier and last longer.
Torsion springs do cost more, but generally last between 15,000 and 20,000 cycles, whereas extension springs last up to 10,000 cycles. For example, if you open your garage door 4 times a day, extension springs will last about 7 years.
Q) Why do I have two different sized springs on my garage door? A) Torsion Springs may be mismatched from the factory or from a previous replacement.
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'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.
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.
On average, homeowners can expect to pay between $200 and $1000 for the average spring replacement (NEVER PAY OVER $1000 UNLESS YOU HAVE CONFIRMED THE PRICE WITH OTHER REPUTABLE COMPANIES).
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.
Out of all parts of your garage door, its springs experience the greatest stress and are the most prone to breaking.
Visible Wear and Tear on Springs
Routine inspections of your garage door torsion springs can identify signs of wear and tear. If you notice any visible damage like cracks, gaps, or rust on the springs, this is a good indication that they should be replaced right away.
Replacing garage door springs takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. New garage door springs last 7 to 14 years, or between 10,000 and 20,000 up-and-down cycles. It is important to hire a professional to help, because changing a garage door spring can be dangerous.