Garage Door Spring Repair and Replacement: What You Should Know

Your garage door gets a great deal of use. It's lifetime should span about 30 years and an automatic garage door opener should get you through 10 or 15 years. But there are parts of your garage door system which require some TLC on a fairly regular basis, and may need to be repaired or replaced to keep the door in good working order. A very important component of a garage door is its springs. You’ve noticed them above or beside the door, but probably never given much thought to what they do.

How do garage door springs work?

There is really nothing more important when it comes to raising and lowering your door. The springs counteract the force of gravity on the door. In other words, they make the door “lighter” so it can be raised manually or by an automatic opener. Without the springs, you’d be lifting the full weight of your door, which is at least 160 pounds. An automatic opener would burn out or go through high-stress components quickly were it not for the springs.

How long do garage door springs last?

While the lifespan of doors and openers can be measured in years, the lifespan of springs is measured in cycles. A cycle is counted as the door being opened and closed one time. Torsion springs, which are mounted above the door, are good for 15,000-20,000 cycles. If you raise and lower your door four times a day, that’s 10-13 years. Tension springs, mounted either above the door or on the sides, have a shorter lifespan of 5,000-10,000 cycles, or about 3.5 to 7 years at four cycles per day.

When should you repair or replace your garage door springs?

A couple of simple tests can tell you. When in the up position, release the door from the opener (if there is one). The door may move slightly, but should remain in the up position. If the bottom rollers move below the horizontal track, the springs need to be re-tensioned. Next, close the door halfway. If the door cannot remain in the halfway position, re-tensioning or replacement is required. Finally, if the door is heavy and the springs are more than four years old, replacement is the best choice.

Is spring repair a DIY project?

Garage door spring repair is a job best left to a professional. Garage door springs are tightly wound and under tremendous tension, and do-it-yourselfers have been injured and even killed trying to change them. A worn spring can break if handled. The sudden release of tension can break fingers and cause pieces, under at least 150 lbs. of force, to go flying off in any direction. If they hit you, they can cause deep cuts and contusions.

Do you have a repair that needs a professional touch?

When in doubt, don’t take a chance with dangerous machinery. Here at Rancho Cordova Overhead Door, we staff professionally trained experts and provide 24/7 emergency services. Give us a call today at 916-347-0211.