5 Tips for Replacing Your Broken Garage Door Spring

Is your garage door spring broken? Before you do anything, call a garage door specialist. Garage door springs can be dangerous due to the amount of weight and tension they hold.

After reaching out to a reputable garage door company like Balanced Garage Doors, read these tips before replacing your garage door spring.

Based on our experience, we use these guidelines to measure garage door spring performance:

• Below average: Spring lasts less than six years
• Average: Spring lasts six to eight years
• Above average: Spring lasts eight to 10 years
• Superior performance: Spring lasts 10+ years

1. Consider the Cost of Garage Door Springs

If the torsion or extension spring on your garage door breaks within six years of installation, we recommend replacing your garage door spring with one of higher quality to reduce future spring repair costs. The incremental cost of a better-constructed spring will be more than offset by its longer life cycle.

When an extension spring breaks, you have fewer options to upgrade to a higher quality spring than a torsion spring. As a result, the garage spring repair cycle and costs tend to remain relatively unchanged unless they install an extension spring with enhanced connections.

2. How To Identify High-Quality Garage Door Springs

In general, springs with a thicker wire gauge and longer length are more durable and long-lasting. When comparing cost estimates for replacing a garage door torsion spring, the homeowner should consider the differences in potential performance and durability based on the wire thickness and length of the proposed replacement spring.

The following guideline can be applied when comparing torsion springs. If the spring wire gauges are the same, the longer spring will be more durable; if the wire gauges are different, the thicker wire gauge will be more durable.

3. 10,000+ Cycles Is Not a High-Performance Spring

For both torsion springs and extension springs, 10,000+ cycles has become the standard rating for most garage door springs produced domestically or imported.

Garage door spring manufacturers, who produce higher-end torsion springs and sell primarily to the garage door repair industry, claim their springs are capable of 15,000 to 20,000 garage door cycles in a well-maintained garage. Increased cycles would save you a significant amount of money in the long run.

Based on our experience, you’ll still get better performance on average from a 20,000+ rated spring than a 10,000+ rated spring, but there’s no guarantee that the performance difference will be 10,000 cycles.

It may end up being 15,000 cycles or a 50% performance improvement versus 100%. The incremental cost for the additional 50% performance gain will still reduce your future garage door spring repair costs.

4. Know Your Garage Door Replacement Spring Options

Garage door repair companies often use the broken spring’s specs to determine the wire gauge and length of the replacement spring. If your broken garage door spring failed within six years or less, chances are the replacement spring will have a similar outcome.

For homeowners who want a higher-quality spring replacement to lower their long-term repair costs, check out prospective garage repair companies to read about their spring repair and check for recent reviews. The best service companies usually have current reviews reflecting high customer satisfaction.

Call the best prospects to ask about their fees, warranties, and expected performance of their garage door replacement springs. If possible, get estimates from repair companies that don’t charge service fees, to avoid being subject to the service fee trap.

When finally deciding on a company to make your garage door spring repair, base your choice on which one provides the best value for your needs and budget, and you’re convinced can make your repair with the spring quality and performance you want.

5. Schedule Preventative Maintenance To Reduce Garage Door Spring Repair Costs