Do you need to repair or replace your garage door’s spring? How much does it cost? Get the answers you need and more in this guide to garage door spring repair.
When the door comes down, the springs wind up — unless you have a broken torsion spring. In that case, the door may only budge a few inches. And if you have an important meeting or need to pick the kids up from school, it may not open at all.
Isn’t that called Murphy’s Law?
Since the garage door and its ability to function properly is essential to daily life when something in the garage door system malfunctions it can throw the household into a panic. While we’re not trained to restore calm, we can help with garage door spring repair.
Read our guide on repairing the springs on your garage door before chaos breaks out!
Do You Even Need Those Springs?
To answer that question, you first need to know how much a garage door weighs. A two-car garage door can weigh between 155 and 225 lbs. Wooden doors weigh more, especially when wet!
All springs store mechanical energy. So do garage door springs but unlike standard springs, torsion springs are constructed of denser material. Their density helps them store more energy than conventional springs.
The springs on your garage door help it lift up, which makes it easier to open. Unless you have the strength of Hercules, you probably can’t lift a garage door with a broken spring. So, yes, you need those springs!
Clues You Have a Broken Garage Door Spring
Your first clue of a broken spring may be when the door won’t open more than 6 inches. But what about the subtle hints your springs started giving you months ago?
When springs break or are close to wearing out, your garage door opener may not completely raise the door. This is a safety precaution built into newer garage door openers. It’s called opener force and when it activates, it prevents the door from falling without warning,
Speaking of falling doors, if your garage door crashes, you likely have a bad spring.
Another sign of a broken garage spring is noise. Whether you hear squealing when the doors go up and down or notice a few more creaks and pops every time the doors go up, inspect the springs.
Rust is another telltale sign you have failed springs. Also, look for gaps. Gaps usually mean a spring snapped and when that happens it’s time for a replacement.
By now, you’re wondering if garage door spring repair is a DIY project, right? The good news is you can do it!
Garage Door Spring Repair 101
Before you tear into any garage door repair project, do some research about the problem and the steps you’ll need to take.
To repair a garage door spring first get to know your springs. Do you have a torsion or extension springs? After you identify your springs, decide whether you can repair or replace. Don’t hesitate to contact a garage door specialist who can help you determine the extent of repairs you need.
Finally, the cost is always a factor when deciding if you should try repairing a broken spring. If you end up replacing springs you’ll spend between $50-$400. A DIY job should cost no more than $100. Before spending more money than that, look into hiring a professional.
Need a Garage Door Professional?
Once you take time to understand your garage door system and get to know about the springs, you’re a step ahead of most garage door owners.
Keep an eye out for any unusual spring behavior such as crashing to the ground, strange noises, and rusty spots or gaps. If you should need a garage door spring repair, make sure you’re comfortable working with something as heavy as a garage door.
If you have questions about your garage door system or need a professional opinion, give us a call. With 10 years of experience, we’ve never met a garage door problem we couldn’t solve.
