When Is It Time to Replace Your Garage Door Springs?
Your garage door is one of the most used entries to your home. It lifts hundreds of times a year to let you come and go. This frequent lifting puts a lot of strain on the garage door springs. These springs do the heavy work of lifting that weight over and over.
Eventually, after years of use, these hardworking springs can wear out or even break. When this happens, your garage door may no longer open smoothly or at all. Replacing worn out garage door springs is an essential repair to keep your home secure and accessible.
In this comprehensive guide from West Coast Garage Doors, we will cover everything you need to know about garage door springs and when it’s time to replace them. We’ll discuss the signs of failing or broken springs, the difference between torsion and extension springs, the safety risks of broken springs, whether DIY replacement is a good idea, how to measure your springs to find replacements, what replacement should cost, and more.
What Are Garage Door Springs and Why Are They Important?
Garage door springs are crucial components that allow overhead doors to open and close smoothly. They counterbalance the weight of the door so that electric openers don’t have to do all the heavy lifting.
There are two main types of springs used on residential garage doors:
- Torsion springs: These springs mount to a metal shaft above the door. As the door opens and closes, the torsion springs twist and turn to provide lifting power.
- Extension springs: These springs mount to the horizontal tracks on either side of the door. They stretch and contract to assist with lifting.
No matter what type of spring system you have, they perform the same vital task. If your springs break or lose tension, the weight of the door is no longer counterbalanced. This makes it very difficult (if not impossible) to open or close manually. It also puts a dangerous amount of strain on automatic openers, increasing the risk of costly opener repairs or failures.
Replacing worn out garage door springs keeps the door balanced and ensures safe, trouble-free access to your home.
7 Signs Your Garage Door Springs Need Replacement
The springs on your garage door will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. But how do you know exactly when that dreaded time has come?
Here are 7 key signs from the garage door experts at West Coast Garage Doors indicating it’s time to replace your torsion or extension springs:
1. The Door Feels Too Heavy
Over time, garage door springs lose tension. This causes the door to feel progressively heavier when you manually open and close it.
If your formerly light door now takes serious effort to operate, the springs may be overstretched or broken. Lifting a door with broken springs can be extremely difficult, if not impossible without an automatic opener.
2. The Door Won’t Stay Open
When properly balanced by the springs, an overhead garage door should be able to stay suspended open a foot or two above the floor. If you manually lift the door and it immediately comes crashing down instead of staying up, there’s definitely an issue with the spring tension.
3. You Hear Loud Popping or Snapping
If a garage door torsion spring breaks while the door is closed, it can make a very loud popping or snapping sound that reverberates through the garage. This noisy event signals that a spring has snapped and you’ll need garage door spring repair services immediately.
4. The Door Opens and Closes Unevenly
If just one of your extension springs breaks, it throws off the balance of the door. This imbalance prevents the door from moving evenly. You’ll notice it opening up crooked or shutting faster on one side.
5. The Door Closes Too Quickly
When working springs are properly counterbalancing the weight of the door, it should gently close in a controlled fashion. If the door comes crashing down abruptly instead, the springs are likely broken.
6. You Notice Visible Damage
Inspect your garage door springs from time to time for signs of wear-and-tear. Look for rust, gaps between coils, or excessive stretching. If they look damaged or worn out, replacement is needed.
7. It’s Been More Than 10 Years
The average lifespan for a set of residential garage door springs is 7-10 years. If your springs are older than this, you’re on borrowed time. Preemptive spring replacement can prevent unexpected breakages.
Did you notice any of these warning signs it’s time to replace your garage door springs? As soon as you suspect an issue, contact West Coast Garage Doors right away for expert diagnosis and repair. Let our trained technicians inspect your springs and determine if replacement is required.
Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Garage Door Spring Replacement
When worn out torsion or extension springs need swapping out, you might think you can tackle this DIY home repair yourself and save a buck. However, we strongly advise against attempting DIY garage door spring replacement unless you’re an incredibly skilled, confident handyman.
Here’s why:
- Garage door springs are under immense pressure. If handled improperly, this pent up tension can cause them to recoil and snap violently. Being struck by one of these snapping springs leads to serious injury for many DIYers each year. Don’t take the risk!
- Proper spring tools like winding bars and vises help technicians replace springs safely. If you don’t have the right specialized tools, the job will be far more dangerous.
- The new springs have to be calibrated with precisely the right length, weight rating, and tension. If you get the wrong size or install them improperly, the unbalanced door can break the new springs again quite soon.
- Two broken springs double your risk. It’s crucial to always replace your garage door springs in matched sets, even if only one is fully broken right now. This prevents any imbalance between sides.
Rather than endanger yourself and invest time and money in trial-and-error, the smart choice is hiring West Coast Garage Door’s trained technicians to complete the spring replacement job expertly. Our pros have all the necessary tools and experience to swap your springs quickly and correctly the first time.
Benefits of Professional Garage Door Spring Replacement
Along with eliminating safety concerns, outsourcing your next garage door spring replacement to the professionals at West Coast Garage Doors offers additional benefits:
Specialized Expertise
Our highly-trained technicians understand the intricacies of garage door spring systems. We possess the technical know-how to remove old springs and re-install new ones properly calibrated for your door. No guessing games for us!
Quality Craftsmanship
With over 25 years in business replacing broken garage door springs in Southwest Florida, we’ve perfected our repair process. We’ll expertly replace your busted torsion or extension springs to like-new condition so they’ll last for years of reliable service.
Comprehensive Safety Inspections
When we come replace your springs, we’ll perform a full door safety inspection looking for any other wear-and-tear. Catching minor issues early on can prevent more costly repairs down the road.
Easy, Convenient Service
Taking on DIY garage repairs means making multiple trips to the hardware store for tools and parts. With West Coast Garage Doors, we supply everything needed to efficiently swap out your springs. Just sit back while our technician handles the heavy lifting!
Warranty Protection
Our first-rate spring replacements come backed by warranty protection for total peace of mind. If any defects arise with parts or craftsmanship, we’ll repair the issue at no extra charge.
For guaranteed safe, seamless garage door spring replacement service, call (239) 478-2665 to connect with the SW Florida overhead door experts from West Coast Garage Doors today!
Choosing the Right Replacement Garage Door Springs
Overhead doors come equipped with either torsion or extension spring systems. When preparing for professional spring replacement, make sure you know which type of springs your door has to find suitable replacements.
Here are some tips from our experts on how to determine the specifications of the new garage door springs you’ll need:
Check Your Existing Springs
Start by visually inspecting your current springs when the garage door is turned off and disengaged. Identify whether you have torsion or extension springs.
- Torsion springs mount to a bar running parallel to your door. Extension springs run vertically and attach to the horizontal tracks.
Measure the Length
Use a tape measure to measure the overall length of your intact spring from end to end. This lets you match the same size for the new replacements.
Gauge the Diameter
Use calipers to accurately gauge the diameter of the spring’s coil width. You’ll need springs with the same diameter.
Verify the Winding Direction
Torsion springs are designed to wind in a specific direction as the door is operated. Ensure your replacements match the exact winding direction and orientation of old ones.
Check the Wire Size
The thickness of the steel wire used in your intact spring also needs to match the new ones. Use a wire gauge tool to identify what wire thickness you need.
With all those measurements in hand, our technicians will be able to source custom, perfectly-compatible garage door springs tailored for your door. Then we’ll get them installed pronto!
Why Routinely Inspect and Replace Your Springs?
We get it. Like most homeowners, you probably don’t think much about those coiled wires humming along above your garage door. But make no mistake – those small springs play an absolutely essential role.
Without properly functioning springs to balance the weight, opening or closing your garage door would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. The electric opener would burn out in no time. Plus, broken springs can really cause chaos, damage, and danger as we’ve covered.
That’s why routinely inspecting and replacing worn garage door springs is so key for home safety and performance. Don’t wait until they fully break to take action. Schedule preventative spring maintenance checks with our garage door technicians every 1-2 years.
We’ll lubricate and examine your springs, assessing them for any stretching, corrosion, cracks, or gaping. If they show signs of wear, we can swap them out right away before a sudden brittle break.
Investing in trustworthy torsion and extension spring repair from West Coast Garage Doors guarantees no disruptions to your household’s comings and goings. Your garage door spring replacement cost today prevents exponentially costlier repairs tomorrow!
How Much Does Garage Door Spring Replacement Cost?
So how much should you budget for your next garage door spring replacement or repairs? Industry costs can range widely depending on a variety of factors:
- Type (torsion or extension springs)
- Size and weight rating
- Single vs. double spring configuration
- Garage door height and width
- Extent of labor involved
- Your location/market rates
Though prices vary across the nation, most homeowners pay around $200-$400 for complete spring replacement. As leading garage door technicians serving Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and beyond, West Coast Garage Door’s competitive spring swap pricing falls right in line with typical industry rates.
And remember – when you choose us for your project, you get what you pay for. We always stand behind our work with ironclad guarantees your repair will be done swiftly, skillfully, and safely without any comeback headaches. Our rave customer reviews speak for themselves!
Trust Southwest Florida’s #1 Garage Door Company
As you can see, your garage door springs are complex mechanisms that make opening and closing your overhead door possible. Allowing them wear out past their prime without replacement can lead to injuries, property damages, and ongoing operational problems.
That’s why having an expert garage door company you can trust for timely spring replacements is so valuable for homeowners.
For over 25 years, West Coast Garage Doors has been Southwest Florida’s go-to provider for expert garage door spring repair and new door installations. Our family-owned business is fully licensed, bonded, and insured. We have hundreds of happy customers due to our quality workmanship, fair pricing, and commitment to delivering 5-star service.
If you suspect your torsion or extension springs need replacing or have any other garage access issues, get in touch with our team today at (239) 478-2665. We’ll promptly diagnose your problem and take care of needed repairs. No task is too small or too big for West Coast Garage Doors.