Garage Door Spring Replacement

If you are a seasoned DIY enthusiast, replacing the garage door spring on your garage door should be rather simple. The warning is that you must use extreme caution when doing this treatment, since failing to take the proper safety precautions can be hazardous. However, you can save some money by doing it yourself if you know what you're doing and have a few basic tools. You can learn how to replace garage door springs and get the necessary tools by following this instruction.

At a high level, there are about 8 steps to replace your garage door springs:

• Grab the correct tools
• Measure and find the correct size torsion springs
• Close garage door
• Ensure the garage door opener is unplugged
• Affix a C-clamp to the track
• Remove the existing springs
• Install the new springs
• Check the door’s balance and lift it up

(read the complete guide below for in-depth details of each step, and please be careful)

What’s in this guide:

1. How Garage Door Torsion Springs Work
2. Why Garage Door Torsion Springs Break
3. Garage Door Spring Types
4. How Much Does Garage Door Spring Repair Cost?
5. Important Safety Considerations
6. Broken Garage Door Spring Repair Tips
7. Tools Required for your Garage Door Repair
8. How to Measure for Your Replacement Torsion Springs
9. Step-by-Step Guide to Replacing Your Garage Door Springs

How Garage Door Torsion Springs Work

Your garage door's torsion spring is a key part, as it is responsible for the opening and closing of the door. You're probably familiar with how a spring functions, which involves its coils storing energy when they're extended and releasing it when they're extended. Torsion springs provide the same function as standard springs but are stronger and more resilient.

The torsion spring is often installed horizontally on top of your garage door; it will coil and unwind depending on whether the door is closed or open. The torsion spring's function is to help lift the garage door because they are incredibly heavy. The tension needed to open and close the garage door won't be present if the torsion spring breaks. As

Why Garage Door Torsion Springs Break

There can be several reasons why garage door torsion springs fail, but these are the most common:

General Deterioration

Like any other component, garage door springs suffer from wear and tear. Though most have a garage door torsion spring life expectancy of 10,000 cycles, how often your garage door is opened and closed will determine the springs’ life. If the garage door is used repeatedly as an entrance to your house instead of the front door, for multiple car users, for kids toys and bikes, as a workshop, and so on, you might find that the springs wear out a lot quicker than anticipated.

Corrosion

Rust will significantly shorten the lifespan of your springs. Rust will increase friction on the coils as well as weakening the actual spring. A little simple maintenance using a silicone-based lubricant to spray the spring a few times a year will prevent rust and prolong its longevity.

Not Regularly Maintained

Your garage doors should be flawless in their movement and perfectly balanced. If the balance is checked regularly, the springs can be adjusted or replaced.

You can check the balance by manually lifting the door halfway and letting go of it. If the springs are in good condition, the door will stay still or only move very slightly. If it falls down a bit, tilts, or slides up, then the balance is off, and you or a professional will be required to replace or adjust the springs.

Garage Door Spring Types

There are two kinds of garage door springs:

1. Torsion Springs

These are the most common type of spring and are situated above the garage door opening. The number of springs required will be determined by the garage door’s size and weight but usually one or two. Torsion springs aren’t as dangerous as extension springs and are more durable, but this does make them a little more expensive.

There are two main types of garage door torsion springs:

Standard Torsion Springs – These are generally used with lighter garage doors often, just one torsion spring will be enough, but if the door is a little heavier, then you should use two.

Torque Master Torsion Springs – This is the safest type of spring for your garage door, they consist of a two spring system, and the springs are contained inside the shaft for optimal safety.

How to recognize a Damaged Torsion Spring?

This can be done by releasing the automatic garage door opener and raising the door manually. If your garage door has slight to no movement or doesn’t need you to hold it up, it is OK. Another way to identify if the spring needs replacing is to position the door midway, it should stay in place, but if it feels heavy, it could mean that the springs are close to failure.

2. Extension Springs

Typically garage doors have two extension springs situated on either side of the garage door tracks. Extension springs are potentially dangerous if they break, so they are used with safety cables in place. Extension springs are lower in cost than torsion springs.

There are three types of Extension Springs:

Open Looped – This is the most straightforward extension spring to replace as it doesn’t require you to take apart the pulley. 

Double Looped – Stronger than the open looped extension springs, they contain two coils at the end of the spring and are attached to the eyebolt and pulley. If broken, they are a little more challenging to replace than the open-looped springs.

Clip Ends – If you are looking for the most durable extension spring, the clip ends to fit the bill. As the clips are at the end of the spring, it places less stress, increasing its overall life span. Best for garage doors of 200 LB or over; the only downside is that they are the most challenging springs to replace.

How to recognize a Damaged Extension Spring

If there are gaps present in the coils of the spring, then it will be time to replace them. You can also check for rust on the springs and misalignment of your garage doors; these signs will need replacing as soon as possible.

How Much Does Garage Door Spring Replacement Cost?

Torsion springs for garage doors typically last 10,000 cycles. One cycle is one time you open and close your garage door. The springs should normally last 4 to 9 years for the majority of households. For instance, your garage door torsion springs should last slightly under seven years if you open and close it four times daily over the course of a year. However, this number might fluctuate greatly due to factors like using the garage instead of the front entrance, kids riding their bikes in and out of the garage, and other factors.

Garage door springs are affordable parts to purchase and will cost from as low as $15 and up to $100 depending on the type of springs you are installing. If you decide to do the job yourself and go the DIY route, then there are several costs to factor in addition to the expense of the springs.

If you are an experienced home DIY enthusiast, it’s odds-on that you have all the necessary tools for the job already. If you are new to DIY, we’d suggest you reconsider doing the job yourself and get a professional to handle it. But if you haven’t got the necessary tools such as C clamps, step-ladder, gloves, and safety goggles, then you can add these to the overall cost.

Something else to consider is your time. However, you save on labor costs by not hiring a professional and purchasing the parts. It will take from a few hours to a weekend to complete the job if you take into account buying and replacing the springs as well as learning how to undertake the task. We would suggest that you also have a helper on hand, and they might require payment for their time, even if it’s just a few beers after the job is done!

As we have already discussed, the safest and most efficient way to replace your springs is by hiring an expert. On average, the cost for spring replacement will be between $200 and $400. 

Nationally, the average cost to have a professional replace a pair of garage springs is from $200 to $400. A skilled garage door mechanic will quickly and efficiently replace the springs, so you need to weigh up convenience and expertise against lower costs.

Important Safety Considerations Before Replacing Garage Door Springs

Garage doors are dangerous, which is confirmed by the statistics, with over 30,000 people injured each year. This isn’t just limited to injuries but deaths from garage door accidents. A garage door can weigh over 400 lbs; if the springs break, they can fall and become damaged or, in the worst-case scenario, result in injury or death.

But the most significant potential danger is when the spring breaks and people without the right knowledge or experience attempt to undertake the replacement. This is why unless you are confident in your abilities and are prepared to follow safety procedures and use the right tools, leave it to the professionals. With reports of people being maimed, losing limbs, and even killed replacing garage door torsion springs, this is why we strongly advise you to consider your options.

You should ensure that you wear personal protective gear such as safety glasses and strong gloves, ideally made from leather or some other durable material.

A lot of the work will be carried out on a ladder and will require a reasonable degree of arm strength as you will be working overhead a lot of the time. Make sure the ladder is steady; ideally, it will make the job much easier if you have someone to assist you. They can hold the ladder, pass you up tools, and help you finish the task faster. When you are winding or unwinding, ensure you position the ladder to the side of the ends of the spring. 

It would be best if you took special care when using the winding bars. As this is part of the most hazardous task, you can significantly reduce the potential of any injury by using the correct tools. Forget about screwdrivers or plier handles if you want to avoid the emergency department. Invest in a set of winding bars and get the job done correctly and harm-free. 

Broken Garage Door Spring Replacement Tips

Here are a few tips to consider before carrying out a spring replacement. 

Replace both torsion springs – Most garage doors have two torsion springs; if you discover that one spring is broken, it is always wise to replace them both. As they are both used equally in the garage door’s open and close cycles, the other won’t be far behind if one suffers from wear and tear. 

Automatic garage door opener – If the spring is broken and you have an automatic door opener, stop using it immediately. If you continue to use it with the broken spring, you stand a high risk of damaging the garage door opener components. Experts suggest that until the torsion springs are repaired, release the door from the opener and use C clamps to hold it open. You’ll likely need others to help you with this, as garage doors can weigh up to 400 lbs or more. 

Tools Required for your Garage Door Spring Replacement

You’ll need a few basic tools to complete this job:

• Step Ladder
• Winding bars
• Safety glasses
• Leather/Mechanics gloves
• Wrench
• Garage Door Lubricant
• Vice Grips/Locking Pliers

How to Measure for Your Replacement Torsion Springs

Torsion springs are available in different lengths, inner diameters, wire sizes, and spring winds. Your install springs must be the correct size to prevent any dangers to you or your home.