How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last and How to Tell When They Need Replacing

In our experience of maintaining and replacing garage door springs in Northglenn, Boulder and the surrounding area, good quality springs can be expected to last for around 7-9 years or so before they will need replacing. However, the exact length of time will depend on a number of factors: poor quality springs could wear out in as little as a year, and springs on garage doors that are opened and closed far more frequently than normal will also wear out or fail considerably sooner. There are a couple of tests that can be performed to determine whether your garage door springs need replacing but before we get into that, let’s look at the two main types of springs that are commonly used in garage door opening mechanisms.

Torsion Springs

If your garage door opener uses torsion springs, you will find that the springs are mounted directly above the door. Torsion springs usually come in pairs and as your door closes, each spring turns, so that when your garage door is fully closed, the torsion springs are storing a considerable amount of energy. This energy is used to lift the door up when you open it. Our Littleton garage door service team recommends installing garage door opening mechanisms with torsion springs as they are sturdier than extension springs and will last longer. Studies have shown that extension springs are normally good for around 10,000 cycles whereas torsion springs may last up to 15,000 or even 20,000 cycles before they need to be replaced.

Extension Springs

If your door opening mechanism uses extension springs, these will be mounted either side of the door, often above the tracks. They will be connected to each corner of the bottom of the door by cables. Extension springs stretch as the door is closed so that when it is fully closed, they are fully extended. The stored energy this produces is used to pull the door open: the extension springs contract when you press the button on your remote to open the door, pulling the door up into the fully open position. As extension springs are constantly being stretched and left in a fully extended position, they are subject to more wear and tear than torsion springs. This fact, added to the sturdier build quality of torsion springs we noted above, is the reason that many homeowners prefer torsion springs. However, good quality extension springs in a well-designed door opening mechanism will still serve you well for around 7 years, assuming that you open your garage door four times a day on average.

Testing Torsion Springs

Torsion springs in good condition should balance your garage door: it should take roughly the same amount of force to push the door open as it does to pull it shut. The springs can be tested by releasing the door from the opener when it is in the up/fully open position. It may move slightly when it is uncoupled from the opener but it should remain in the open position if the springs are good. Another way to test the condition of the springs is to pull the door until it is halfway closed. It should stay in this position if the springs are properly balanced and not unduly worn.

Identifying Worn Extension Springs

Our garage door service teams in Broomfield, Parker and Littleton do not have a specific test that they use to see whether extension springs need replacing. What they do instead is examine the springs themselves. Badly worn extension springs will have gaps between the coils: if you notice that yours have gaps, they definitely need replacing sooner rather than later.

Replacing Worn Torsion and Extension Springs

Unless you are a qualified garage door repair technician with plenty of experience, we do not recommend that you try to replace either torsion or extension springs without professional assistance. It is also a bad idea to try to repair garage door springs of either type, not only because it could be dangerous but also because once a spring is worn, it cannot be restored to its former condition. Only replacement, using good quality springs from a reputable source, will suffice.

It is true that some homeowners have successfully swapped out their own garage door springs when they reached the end of their useful lifespan but as we said above, unless you are fully experienced and confident in your ability to tackle this job, it’s not something we would recommend you try. A qualified garage door installation professional will follow strict safety procedures when removing your existing springs and installing new ones, procedures that he or she has followed hundreds of times in the past and that have now become second nature. If you really want to do the job yourself, you can search for a DIY guide online but we urge you to follow all safety instructions to the letter if you do go down this route.

We Replace Garage Door Springs in Broomfield, Boulder, Denver and Surrounding Areas

For those who would rather leave it to the professional garage door technicians, we will be happy to come and inspect your garage door springs if you think they may have reached the end of their useful lifespan. If they need replacing, we can source good quality replacement parts, make sure they are exactly the right size, and install them for you on a day of your choosing. Call or email us today for pricing information and details of the areas we cover.