Should I Replace Both Garage Door Springs?

Although you might be tempted to save money on labour and parts by replacing just one spring, you should replace both garage door springs when one breaks.

Garage doors have two springs (left and right-wound), one on either side of the door. The springs exert the force that makes your door light enough to be lifted. When one garage door spring breaks, homeowners sometimes wonder if they need to replace both springs or if they can just replace the malfunctioning one. Read on to learn why you should always replace both garage door springs even when only one breaks.

Why Is A Balanced Garage Door Important?

The main function of springs is to keep your garage door balanced, ensuring that both sides of the door move up and down simultaneously. If one spring breaks, it throws off the function of the door, as now the two sides will rise and fall at different speeds.

You will also hear more noise when using your garage door, and the other spring will wear down faster with the higher workload, trying to balance out the issues on the other side of the door.

The average life expectancy of a garage door spring is about 10,000 cycles, including both opening and closing. For most garage doors, that means about seven to nine years according to the number of cycles, but some springs break within four or five years with frequent use.

Growing gaps between the coils in your springs indicate that the springs are failing and may need to be replaced.

Why Is An Unbalanced Garage Door Dangerous?

If one spring breaks, several things can occur:

• The door may close suddenly.
• Loose springs can crack or may fall out of the brackets.
• Your garage door might slow down or speed up. It may even become unpredictable and put you and your family in danger when you enter or exit your garage.

A malfunctioning spring leads to warping on the tracks due to wear on the wheels. The motor also experiences a greater demand for power when the garage door is pushed up and will need to be replaced sooner.

Can A Garage Door Operate With One Spring?

No, both springs have to work together to pull the garage door up and bring it down gently. Operating on one spring presents safety concerns and can also lead to wear and tear on the door.

Also, you should never try to balance a garage door yourself. While replacing both springs is imperative for your door to function again, only a professional can provide the repairs you need. Our garage door repair technicians at Door Doctor know how to perform tests on the door’s balance.

Garage doors are quite heavy—hundreds of pounds—and you don’t want to put yourself in harm’s way. The safest option is to enlist our help to replace both springs.

Contact Door Doctor For Spring Repairs And Replacements

Now you know why a balanced garage door is essential—it protects you and your family. If you have a problem with your garage door opener, or if you need a garage door spring replacement, call Door Doctor now.

We are a professional garage door installation and repair company, and our experts are known for the quality work they provided their clients over the years. We can solve all your garage door-related problems for you. Call us now.