Repairing Guides

how to repair garage door spring

by Jameson Ziemann Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  1. Measure your spring’s length and diameter. This will help you get the right spring for your garage door. ...
  2. Clamp the garage door down. You want to ensure that the door won’t shoot up as you repair the spring, so use a pair of locking pliers or ...
  3. Unwind your broken spring. Ensure that you have a pair of winding bars to do this. ...
  4. Disconnect hardware. Disconnect the nuts and bolts that are holding the springs in place on the center bracket. ...
  5. You’re now ready to replace the springs. Get the new springs, and reassemble the brackets ready to be reattached to the garage door. ...
  6. Lubricate your springs. Slip some cardboard between the spring and the door, and then saturate the spring with a garage door lubricant spray.

How much does it cost to replace a garage door spring?

Sometimes, it's not possible to repair the garage door springs and the only option is to replace them. Replacing garage door springs costs between $200 and $300 for a professional to complete the job. This includes the cost of the spring, which ranges from $40 to $100 for a torsion spring and $5 to $30 for an extension spring.

How often should I replace my garage door spring?

How often should I replace my garage door springs?

  • Your garage door feels bulky. If you feel like lifting your garage door has become heavier than usual, you should get the torsion springs checked.
  • Loud noise emanating from your garage. ...
  • Loose cables. ...
  • Door moving in a jerky way. ...
  • Rust. ...
  • Gaps in torsion springs. ...
  • Door appears to be bent. ...
  • The door is not opening fully. ...

Can I replace the spring on my garage door?

The door will rise with less effort and remain safely in place. The garage door opener may also need to be replaced if it has been damaged by springs that are too big or too small. Note that only a trained garage door technician should attempt to replace their garage torsion springs. Attempting this process on your own could lead to serious injury.

How much for replacing garage door springs?

Replacing garage door springs can cost you between $200 and $300 for an experienced tradesperson to complete the job. This includes the cost of the spring, which ranges from $40 to $100 for a torsion spring and $5 to $30 for an extension spring.

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Can you repair a garage door spring yourself?

You can definitely replace garage door springs on your own, but it can be a bit tricky and dangerous, and the skill required depends a lot on the type of springs that you have.

How much should it cost to replace the spring on a garage door?

$150 to $350Garage Door Spring Replacement Cost Replacing garage door springs costs $150 to $350 on average. The springs alone typically run $30 to $75 each, but you may find them as low as $15 and up to $100 each. Commercial grade springs can run $300 or more.

How do I put the spring back on my garage door?

1:4516:16Garage Door Torsion Spring Replacement: How to by ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYour two features and they're going to tight take your wrench. They create a strong grip on this andMoreYour two features and they're going to tight take your wrench. They create a strong grip on this and very slowly you'll feel the pressure of that spring on our hand.

How do you fix the tension on a garage door spring?

3:176:30How To Balance a Garage Door - Torsion Spring Adjustment - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen hold the bar over this way just a little bit to hold your position. And tighten the set screwsMoreThen hold the bar over this way just a little bit to hold your position. And tighten the set screws down. And once you feel it grab you want to go about a quarter turn past that.

Can I open my garage door with a broken spring?

But good because, if one or more of the springs on your garage door are broken, you should avoid opening the door. It's usually possible to open the door manually but do not use the automatic opener.

Can you replace just one garage door spring?

Yes. You may be tempted to save money on parts and labor by replacing just one spring, but you'll likely need to replace both when one spring breaks. Garage doors have two springs, one on either side of the door.

How many times do I wind my garage door spring?

A rule of thumb with springs is that four quarter turns equals a full revolution and the spring needs to be tightened a full revolution for every foot of door height (e.g. 7-1/2 foot door = 7 revolutions +2 (30 quarter turns).

How do you replace a garage door extension spring?

2:2011:45How to Replace a Garage Door Extension Spring - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInside the spring right here and that safety cable is attached to a bracket that comes down off yourMoreInside the spring right here and that safety cable is attached to a bracket that comes down off your ceiling. So you have to remove. That safety cable in order to remove.

How do I know if my garage door torsion spring is broken?

Signs of a Broken Garage Door SpringThe top half of the door appears misaligned.The door opens a few inches and then slams down again.The cables attached to the springs are dangling.The door seems to be off track or crooked.

How do you fix a loose spring?

How to Fix Loose Springs in a CouchFlip the Couch Over. ... Determine How the Fabric is Attached. ... Remove the Staples and Fabric. ... Check the Springs to Find the Problem. ... Use Pliers to Bend the Springs Back Into Place. ... Tighten Any Loose Nails or Screws. ... Tighten Any Other Loose Fittings. ... Staple the Fabric Back Into Place.More items...

Do garage door springs need to be adjusted?

Your garage door springs offset the garage door's entire weight, which is very heavy. They need to be adjusted properly for the door to open and shut easily.

Why is my garage door so heavy to lift?

Cause: Garage torsion springs are vital aspects of the garage opening system, as no other part of the mechanism is strong enough to lift the heavy door. When a torsion spring suffers a failure or breakage, you may notice that your garage feels much weightier to lift, or it simply won't open at all.

A Note On Garage Door Spring Safety

Before getting into replacing the garage door spring, it’s important to note how dangerous these springs can be. They hold a lot of tension, which they need to open that door for you when you use it. If that spring were to break, then it can ping away at high speeds. That can cause damage to your car, or worse, injure you or a loved one.

When A Garage Door Spring Needs To Be Replaced

There will be several signs that your garage door spring needs to be replaced. These include:

How to Repair A Garage Door Spring

Now that you’ve identified there’s a problem with your garage door spring, you’ll need to replace it.

How to measure a broken spring?

Measure the inner diameter and length. Measure the inner diameter of the broken spring as shown. Loosen the setscrews on the broken spring and slide the broken portion over to meet the stationary section. Measure the overall length of the springs (not including the cones). Most home centers don't carry all the replacement parts you'll need ...

How to keep a door in place when you let it go?

If the door springs are properly adjusted, the door should stay in place when you let go. If the door falls when you let go, add a quarter turn to each spring. Repeat if necessary. If the door continues to open on its own, release spring tension in quarter-turn increments until the door stays in place when you let go.

How to tighten a torsion tube?

Snap a locking pliers onto the torsion tube to lock it into place while you tighten the drums. Rotate the drum to wind the cable into the winding grooves. Pull the cable as tight as possible before tightening the setscrews. Leave the locking pliers in place and repeat the tightening procedure on the other side. You want equal tension on both sides. Otherwise, the door will open unevenly.

How to organize a garage?

Shove a winding bar into a bottom hole of the winding cone of the good spring. Hold the bar in place while you loosen the two setscrews. Hang on tight; the spring will push with powerful torque as the screws release. 51 Brilliant Ways to Organize Your Garage.

How much does a torsion spring cost?

Standard torsion springs (about $40 each) have a service life of 7,000 to 10,000 open/close cycles. However, you can buy double-life (25,000 cycles) replacement springs for about $65 per spring. If you have a two-spring setup and one spring breaks, the second spring will break soon.

How to remove cable drum from door?

Starting on the left side of the door, slide the torsion tube to the right so you can remove the cable drum. Then slide the old spring off the tube.

How heavy is a garage door?

Most garage doors are heavy (200 to 300 lbs.), so call in three strong friends to help you lift the door and hold it open while you lock it in the full raised position with a locking pliers. Then move your vehicles and have your friends help you lower the door. Garage Door Tune-Up.

How to tell what type of spring to use for garage door?

How To Determine Which Type Of Spring You Have. There are two common types of garage door spring: torsion spring and extension (tension) spring. A torsion spring will usually be instantly identifiable by its location over the door. A torsion spring will be mounted to the header (the beam supporting the weight of the house) over the garage door.

What to do if your door is closed and the spring is broken?

As mentioned earlier, torsion springs are quite commonly used for heavier, larger doors. As a rule, if the door is closed (and it probably will be if a spring is broken) leave it closed while you repair it. If you have an opener, unplug it.

How many springs are in a torsion spring?

With a torsion spring system, there will usually be two springs, but some only have one. The process will be the same with both the torsion and extension spring design. Obviously, when a spring breaks the door will be difficult to open.

What happens if an extension spring breaks?

As such, when an extension spring breaks you will see the cable sagging, and again, the door will be difficult to open. Pro Tip. After you have diagnosed your broken spring, the temptation may be to just replace the one spring. Keep in mind, however, it is very likely both springs will have the same age and wear.

What prevents a broken spring from shattering?

In the torsion design, a metal bar passes through the spring (s). This prevents a broken spring from shattering, potentially sending fragments through the air. If you have more than one section of torsion spring on either side of the metal bar, your spring is broken and must be replaced.

Why is it important to stay in complete control of the door at all times?

It’s very important to stay in complete control of the door at all times. As a door opens, more and more of the weight of the door is supported by the tracks until it is fully open. The opposite is also true, so a door will feel heavier and heavier as it closes, requiring more and more effort .

How much does a garage door opener weigh?

Many doors can weigh in excess of three hundred pounds, so needless to say, either a person or a garage door opener would need to have extreme lifting power without some sort of mechanical advantage. This is the job the spring fulfills.

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