THE GOOD GUYS DOOR

Your garage door springs pretty much do all of the hard work when it comes to your door opening and closing. Garage door springs breaking is a perplexing problem for many homeowners who do not know what exactly how garage door springs work, how to fix them, or what causes them to break – all of which is valuable knowledge to have before you end up late to work because you couldn’t get your car out of the garage.

First, what type of spring do I have, and why are they important?

• Extension spring systems are mounted on either side of the garage door track. They extend and contract with the assistance of cables and pulleys when the door is in motion.
• Torsion spring systems typically use one or two (depending on door size) tightly wound springs. The springs are located horizontally on a steel shaft and have cable drums at both ends. The torsion spring is mounted to the header wall above the garage door. Most commonly it has a three-pronged support system with a center and two end bearing plates at either end.
• Regardless of the type, your garage springs are responsible for helping the door raise and lower. When the garage door is lowered, the springs gain tension. When raising the garage door, tension is released and the spring assists with the lifting. It’s important to note, your garage door springs have the most tension when the garage door is in the closed position. As a result, most garage door springs break when the door is down. In the occasional instance when the spring breaks while the door is in the open position, the door may come crashing down. This is why it’s important to never walk under an operating door.

Top reasons why garage door springs break

• Wear and Tear

By far the biggest reason for garage door spring failure is simple wear and tear. Most springs are engineered and rated for about 10,000 cycles – one cycle being the garage door going up and coming back down to close. That may seem like a lot, but consider that you go through a minimum of two cycles a day just getting the car out of and back into the garage. If you go on any errands, a spouse goes to work through the same garage, or kids open and close the door for any reason, those daily cycles can add up a lot faster than you may think. If your garage door has become your “front door” and receives excessive use, it might be smart to consider getting extended lifespan torsion springs, which are rated for 20,000 or more cycles.

• Rust 

If any rust develops in the spring for any reason, its lifespan will be dramatically shortened. Rust increases the amount of friction on the coils while it moves back and forth. In addition, the corrosion on the spring itself will weaken the coils and lead to failure more quickly. Spraying down the spring with a silicone-based lubricant three or four times a year can greatly assist in keeping it well lubricated and extend its life expectancy.

• Improper Maintenance

All garage door springs will fail eventually, but proper maintenance can not only prolong the lifespan of the springs but alert you when they are getting close to failure. They can help prevent potentially destructive explosive breaking of the spring as well as the headache involved with fixing it as quickly as possible. In addition to lubricating the spring with white lithium grease a few times a year, check the garage door balance at least once a season, especially in the winter when most springs fail. To check balance:

• Pull the emergency release cord (it has a red handle) to place the door in manual mode.
• Lift the door up halfway and let go of it. Springs in good working order should keep it completely still; if the door sags and falls a bit, the springs are starting to show signs of wear and may need adjustment or replacement.

We highly advise broken garage door spring repairs be performed by professional technicians who possess the proper training and tools to complete the job safely.

All garage doors depend on a properly sized spring to effectively operate the door. When a spring breaks, the door becomes unbalanced and can be very difficult to open manually due to the weight. When this occurs, we strongly advise our customers to not use the door. 

Attempting to use your garage door opener with a broken spring can cause further damage to the opener and the entire garage door system. In order to prevent further damage or more importantly, an injury, we highly recommend calling The Good Guys Door Dallas TX for your broken torsion spring or extension spring repairs.

When you call The Good Guys Door repair near me you can be assured of the following:

• Replacement of both springs: Many garage doors are installed with two springs. If one of your garage door’s torsion springs breaks, it’s likely that the other is nearing the end of its lifespan too. After evaluating your garage door, if it is determined that a broken spring is the problem, our technicians will usually recommend replacing both springs. We always replace extension springs in pairs to assure a properly balanced door.
• Installing the perfect springs: All garage doors DO NOT use the same spring. Garage doors come in many different track configurations, sizes, and weights. All of these different factors influence the type, length, and wire size of the perfect spring. Our qualified technicians are trained to measure and install the correct springs for your specific garage door. After installation, our technicians will check to ensure the correct springs have been used by performing a balance test.
• Safety inspection: The Good Guys Door Dallas, Texas understands the importance of garage door safety. After performing a garage door spring replacement, our technicians will provide a safety inspection ensuring all the hardware and moving parts of your door are properly lubricated and in good working order. Additionally, all extension spring repairs include safety cables. The garage door safety cables will prevent the spring from flying across the garage if it breaks.

An integral part of an overhead rolling garage door system is the spring (or springs) that serves to assist either manual or mechanized opening and closing of the overhead door. There are two types of spring systems: a torsion spring system in which a single coiled spring running parallel to the door serves to counter the weight of the door; and an extension spring system in which two springs, one on either side of the door running parallel to the overhead door tracks, does the work.

In either case, the springs are part of the door system itself, and not part of the automatic garage door opener. The cost of replacing the springs can range from about $75 if you do the work yourself, or up to $400 for a professional replacement. Before you opt for the cheaper route, though, consider all the issues. 

The Function of Garage Door Springs

Torsion springs and extension springs are kept under enormous pressure when the door is shut to help assist it upwards when you want to open it. With torsion springs, this pressure is created by the springs being tightly coiled and compressed, usually by a metal cable drum that tightens the spring as the door is lowered. With extension springs, the pressure is created when the springs, which run parallel to the overhead tracks. are stretched out when the door is lowered. Without the springs, a garage door, which can weigh several hundred points, is nearly impossible to lift and lower, either by hand or by the relatively small electric motors found on mechanical garage door openers. Lowering a garage door without springs is a dangerous affair because the door can easily slam down violently. 

In many installations, the garage door springs can last as long as 30 years, but like any moving metal part, garage door springs will eventually wear out or break due to fatigue. When one of the spring breaks, your garage door will cease to operate properly. If you operate the garage door by hand, you’ll notice that the door begins to feel very heavy to lift, or it may slam down hard when you close it. If you have an automatic garage door opener, the electric motor may stop working properly, unable to handle the weight.

DIY Replacement or Professional Repair?

Both torsion and extension springs are relatively affordable parts, usually selling for under $65 per spring. This makes DIY replacement seem like a pretty good option, but be aware that you may also need other tools to do that job safely. And if done by amateurs working without proper knowledge, serious injury can occur when replacing garage door springs. These metal parts operate under great pressure, so make sure you read directions carefully and follow them exactly if you choose to do this work yourself.

Cost of Professional Replacement

The costs to repair your garage door springs will depend on the condition of your garage, the type of garage door you have, the type of springs required, where you live, and which company is performing the job. Nationally, the average cost to have a professional replace a pair of garage springs is from $200 to $400. Like any service work, the cost of this repair is a matter of supply and demand—where labor is cheap and there is an ample number of businesses who do this work, costs will be lower. Keep in mind that while only one spring may have broken, springs are mounted in pairs; if one has broken the other may also be worn and should be replaced at the same time.

Some garage door companies offer springs of different quality levels with different life expectancies, as indicated by the length of the warranties. A $200 spring replacement might be warranted for only one or two years, while a more expensive replacement job might get you “lifetime warranty” springs. The life expectancy of garage springs is sometimes measured by “cycles” rather than years. For example, cheaper springs may be listed as having 10,000 cycles of use, which translates into a spring that can be expected to open and close four times a day for perhaps six years before failing.

Cost of DIY Replacement

Estimating the cost of replacing the springs yourself is slightly less straightforward than estimating the cost of professional replacement. This is because there are several factors to consider when coming up with the final price, and not all of them are monetary. 

• Cost of the springs. Garage door springs themselves are fairly inexpensive. They can usually be purchased from online retailers or a big-box home improvement center for less than $150 per set, even for top-end springs. Be sure to take an old spring with you to the store, or jot down all the specifications, to ensure that you get an exact replacement. 
• Cost of other tools. It doesn’t take a lot of tools or equipment to change a garage door spring, but it does require some things, such as a clamp to hold the door in place while you change it, and safety goggles and gloves to help ensure safety. The cost of these items needs to be factored into the door spring replacement cost, as well. If you don’t have a step stool or stepladder, you’ll need to buy or borrow one of those, as well.
• Cost of time. Replacing the garage door springs is not a very difficult job, but it does take time, particularly if this is the first time you’ve done it. The time it takes you to find and purchase the correct spring and tools for the job; the time it takes you to familiarize yourself with the door and the springs and learn the procedure; and finally, the time it takes you and a helper to replace the springs—all these considerations contribute to the total “costs” of this repair job. It’s not uncommon for a DIYer to take a full weekend to do this project, so carefully consider how much you value the time you’ll spend. 

The Bottom Line

When determining the costs of replacing your garage door springs, don’t forget to factor in the many different components as you weigh your decision. While you might well be able to do the job yourself in a weekend for $100 to $150, you may decide that the convenience and confidence that comes from having a pro do the work for $200 to $400 in a fraction of the time is well worth the extra cost. 

The most common reason for a broken garage door spring is simply that it has worn out. A garage door spring’s life expectancy is not unlimited, and sooner or later, like every part, it just has to give. How long do garage springs last, typically? The average garage door spring, if correctly installed, should last about 10,000 cycles of opening and closing.

If you only go in and out of your garage once a day, that means you should expect a broken garage door spring around 14 years after the spring is first installed. If you go in and out twice a day, you’re down to 7 years. If you have kids using the garage door as an alternative entrance, a spouse who runs errands multiple times a day going in and out of the garage each time, or regularly bring storage items into or out of the garage, that number drops fast.

This is a very common question asked of garage door repair technicians. Many home owners don’t know what exactly a torsion spring is, what it does and how long it lasts.

The answer is actually quite basic!

If your garage door’s torsion spring is broken you will likely notice the following:

• Your opener will struggle or be unable to lift the door.
• When you disconnect the opener and raise the door manually, the door won’t stay in the up position.
• You will see the split in the spring when viewing it

Garage door springs are under a lot of tension, which means repairing or replacing them puts you and your fingers in danger. You should leave most of these repairs to a professional, but if you’re comfortable in your abilities, you can take on some minor repairs as a DIY project.