Torsion springs are intuitively designed to help stabilize your garage door. They also do the heavy lifting when garage doors open, and keep them from closing shut by accident. Garage door springs generally wear out in 6 to 10 years, but with specialty warranty programs, they can last forever. If you’re not sure how long your garage door springs will last and are considering replacing them, take a look below for general garage spring maintenance and lifetime warranty information. 

Signs of garage door springs that need repairs

The industry standard for a pair of torsion springs is usually 10,000 cycles, or about 6 to 10 years, depending on level of use. If they’re broken, it’s easy to tell simply because broken garage door springs will usually just snap in half or stop working altogether. Another way to tell if they need replacement is if the garage door is not staying open after it has been fully lifted.

What Do I Do If My Torsion Springs Have Broken?

Broken garage door torsion springs are one of the most common repairs to garage doors. Torsions springs are responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the garage door.

Garage doors can weigh up to 400 pounds or more. Ponderosa Garage Doors recommends that ALL of your garage door components, including torsion springs, be inspected on an annual basis.

However, if you suspect that any of your garage door components are in need of repair please consult a professional garage door repair specialist. The most dangerous garage door component is the torsion spring.

Garage door torsion springs are under enormous pressure. A torsion spring mishap can result in serious injury or even death. If your home’s garage door torsion spring does break we suggest:

• Unplug your electric garage door opener
• Do not attempt to repair or remove the broken torsion spring
• Do not try to shut or open the garage door
• Leave the area near the broken garage door torsion spring
• Make everyone in your household aware of the broken garage door torsion spring
• Immediately contact a professional garage door repair specialist

Lifetime Warranty Garage Door Springs

Just how long your garage door springs last depends on a number of variables, among them the size of the spring wire, the diameter inside the spring, the length of the spring and how frequently the garage door is raised and lowered.

Typically, a new, “double spring” system will run you somewhere between $200 and $275 depending on wire size, and many of these springs last between six and 10 years, or about 10,000 “cycles.” Each time your garage door is raised and lowered is considered one “cycle.” Lifetime warranty springs, however, as the terms suggests, are a great, cost-effective option for those who plan on living in a home for the foreseeable future.

If your garage door relies on more than one spring in order to operate, it is advised that you consider replacing both springs with lifetime warranty springs at the same time. This is due to the fact that garage door springs tend to wear over time, and rather than have to replace one and then another several months later, kill two birds with one stone and save yourself time, money and frustration.

Benefits of lifetime warranty garage door springs

• They will eventually pay for themselves by reducing your maintenance expenditures.
• They are ideal for anyone who raises and lowers a garage door multiple times in one day.
• They reduce the stress and fees associated with having to call in professional assistance and replace parts.
• They minimize the dangers associated with broken springs, such as having the door fall.
• They minimize the chance you’ll find yourself stuck inside or outside of your garage at an inopportune time.
• They can serve as a selling point if placing your home on the market.

How can I maintain my garage door springs?

You should regularly check all of the moving parts in your garage door each month. Be sure that everything is lubricated well, especially the torsion springs. They should be lubricated with a coat of oil to help reduce friction between the coils. This will also help the springs last longer.

Without functioning springs, your door likely won’t work properly, although some garage door makes and models may continue to operate in diminished capacity for some time after the spring breaks before failing.

What type of garage springs do you need to replace them with?

There are a variety of torsion springs available. Standard torsion springs are the most common variety and are seen in most residential garages. Easy set torsion springs are similar to standard springs and are attached parallel to the garage door tracks. Steel rolling door torsion springs are another type of spring that are most common in heavy steel commercial doors. If you plan on living in your home for a long time and do not want to replace your torsion springs often, consider investing in lifelong torsion springs. We are proud to carry springs that have a lifetime warranty.

It is important to note that replacing and repairing torsion springs is very dangerous, especially if you have never done it before or if you do not have the right tools. You should always have this job completed by a professional that is experienced in garage door repair and understands the inner works of torsion spring installation and removal.

INTERESTED IN LIFETIME WARRANTY SPRINGS?

For more about the benefits of lifetime warranty springs or to speak with a garage door professional about repairing broken garage door springs, contact our highly trained team at Ponderosa Garage Doors today by calling (503)-730-0444.