Garage door spring broke...replace both?

[ezriderga]

Our house is 17 years old and one of the garage door springs broke. Tomorrow someone is coming out who specializes in garage door repairs and installs. My question is...should I just go ahead and have him replace the one on the other door too?


I mean he is already going to be here and I wouldn't be concerned about it breaking in the near future. What would you do? How much can I expect this repair to cost, based on your experience?

 

[Marcm157]

I would definitely replace the other spring. Price is dependent on going rates in your area. I just paid $150 to have the springs replaced on 2 doors and that included the parts and that was here in NY where nothing is cheap...

 

[kngelv]

Absolutely!

James

 

[FearTheH]

If it were me I would have him inspect the other spring, which doesn't mean that it definitely won't break right after he looks at it. If I were a betting man, I'd say the one that's broken is on the door that sees the most use. I'm not sure of the cost of having someone do this, but I'm glad to see you're getting it professionally done...those springs are under a lot of tension, and springs have claimed lives due to slip ups.

 

[Strouty]

Labor wise it shouldn't be much more effort.

 

[stonesfan68]

Agreed, replace both.


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[hemifalcon]

Don't let the internet experts scare you.. installing these springs is incredibly easy if you're handy.. replacing them is easy and requires just as much care and concern you apply when doing any mildly dangerous task.. (and-replace both!)


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[mbatarga]

Don't be surprised if you get a quote of $400 or more. I wouldn't pay that much - but I've heard that highway robbery is typical.

 

[1949 caddyman]

They may want to replace the rollers, bearings etc. It raises the cost.

 

[Keith_MN]

I agree with Hemi. Replacing a garage door spring is way down on the list of dangerous things I am willing to do myself.

You just need some half-inch rods to turn the adjuster and be careful.

 

[Mickey O]

Definitely replace both. A good garage door repair man with have a scale and will weigh the door and make sure to put the correct springs on. Had ours replaced a few years ago, turns out we had the wrong springs.

 

[Tundruz]

From your pic it looks like your door only has one spring, so my question is, what size are your garage doors? My metal garage door is roughly 16'x7' and I have 2 springs for weight and balance. Maybe ask your garage door technician to weigh your door and make sure your spring system is adequate for your setup.

 

[ezriderga]

From your pic it looks like your door only has one spring, so my question is, what size are your garage doors? My metal garage door is roughly 16'x7' and I have 2 springs for weight and balance. Maybe ask your garage door technician to weigh your door and make sure your spring system is adequate for your setup.

The garage has two single doors approximately 7' x 9'. Yes I will ask him to weigh the door to be sure he uses the correct spring. I appreciate all the feedback and suggestions.

 

[FearTheH]

Don't let the internet experts scare you.. installing these springs is incredibly easy if you're handy.. replacing them is easy and requires just as much care and concern you apply when doing any mildly dangerous task.. (and-replace both!)


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Since I'm apparently an Internet expert, here's a video from another Internet expert:

One of our maintenance guys at work lost two fingers about 6 months ago while tightening an overhead door torsion spring, he's done it numerous times but it only takes that one slip up to become injured.

 

[swharris]

Don't let the internet experts scare you.. installing these springs is incredibly easy if you're handy.. replacing them is easy and requires just as much care and concern you apply when doing any mildly dangerous task.. (and-replace both!)


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Agree. Just be careful and make sure the rods you will be using to pre-tension the springs fit snug in the holes on the adjuster. One note that screwed me up the first time, is that you have to tension each spring opposite to the other. One you tighten clockwise and the other anti clockwise (relative to the axis of the shaft). Watch some videos, wear safety gear, and be deliberate and you'll be fine. Also make sure to tension both sides the same amount.

 

[ezriderga]

Since I'm apparently an Internet expert, here's a video from another Internet expert:

One of our maintenance guys at work lost two fingers about 6 months ago while tightening an overhead door torsion spring, he's done it numerous times but it only takes that one slip up to become injured.

I have done and still do most repairs around the house/garage but there are some things I will just pay a pro to do. I'm sure whoever suggested doing it myself has done it before and feels confident doing it and that's fine. I'm enjoying retirement too much to deal with an unnecessary injury.

 

[hemifalcon]

Since I'm apparently an Internet expert, here's a video from another Internet expert:

One of our maintenance guys at work lost two fingers about 6 months ago while tightening an overhead door torsion spring, he's done it numerous times but it only takes that one slip up to become injured.

Do you take everything personally even of you're not addressed by the speaker?
Accidents happen-quit propagating fear to all because of a ****** accident experienced by a few..

Maybe I can find a link to the Bathroom Journal or Couch Journal.. You may fit in there better.. Have advise--share.. Negative BS--keep it to yourself.. A lot of young men today need positive encouragement to do household tasks since they weren't taught--plenty of good info to be had allowing people to be self sufficient..



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[FearTheH]

Nothing was personal. I was the only one mentioning safety concerns, so it was quite obvious. I'm not spreading fear, I simply stated that it was a good move calling someone who does it every day because the potential danger. I don't see any issue with that.

 

[rwgust]

By how you asked the question, I think you already know that the correct answer is yes - have them done. You would not have asked if you didn't think they should both be done.

 

[James-W]

I would replace both springs, if one failed the odds are pretty good that the other one may fail within a relatively short time.

 

[tyleroliver]

I think it would be better to replace both.

 

[bubinga]

this is just ME, but 10 Years ago, I would have said, "ask me if I'm gonna do it my self?
Can I get a "Hell Yeah" ?!!
but at 61, not that's that's old, but plus I had some treatments 3 years ago, and now I find myself doing lots of stupid things, and being very forgetful, I swear the treatments made me 3 times more forgetful than I was getting to be prior to that.
So I don't think I'd want to fool with one.
Note, I have never replaced or adjusted that type of spring.

 

[BillK]

Yes I will ask him to weigh the door to be sure he uses the correct spring.

I hate to say this, but that will probably just insult him

 

[TractorJeff]

For what its worth, In my opinion: I grew up around doors with the springs on the sides. I had one break last summer and bought a replacement while on vacation. I have since learned there are 3 different weight capacity springs. No biggie as I'll be replacing the other in the Spring to match.
Mine rusted out where the spring rests on the sheetrock it passes thru. Which makes me figure the other will break at some point.
A 7 by 9 metal door probably only has one spring as they are pretty light in weight. Mine is a very old wooden door with insulation and lathe added on which makes it heavier than the original design.
A wound spring I would pay someone else to replace no matter how easy everyone says it is to do. I need those fingers to hang on to wrenches, not let stubbornness let them end up on the garage floor!

 

[ford33]

I replaced one spring when it broke. About a year later the other spring broke. I should have replaced both at the same time.

 

[slow]

I've always replaced them in pairs. Amazon, $75 shipped for 2 springs and the rods, done. Had one spring break on my old house right before selling it, and then one spring break on my new door right after moving in, so 2 sets in 4 months.

Respect the spring and it is not a big deal to do, use the wrong tools or do not respect the spring, then you can be seriously injured. Also, try to keep 2 bars in the spring at all times, or as much as you can. (I know you need to remove one to put the next one in) Mark your bars with the depth of the spring with electrical tape so you know if you do not get the bar into the spring correctly.

http://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/replace-garage-door-torsion-springs.php

 

[Jeepster52]

I would replace both. After that there are no worries in any way. I too,once had a garage with the door springs on the sides. Boy when that baby broke a piece of it went through the wall board on the back wall! These springs just make a Big Bang and spin on their shaft when they break.A better, safer design in my opinion.Good luck with your repair however you choose to continue.

 

[rlitman]

...should I just go ahead and have him replace the one on the other door too? ...

Garage door springs wear by the number of uses.
If you open both doors about equally, then it is reasonable to expect both to need spring replacement at around the same time. If you hardly ever open the second door, then the springs in that door might last indefinitely.

A lot of the posts on this thread refer to the normal situation that a door has two springs. In such a case, it is common for one spring to fail first (I mean really, what are the odds of both failing at the same time?). In that case, you would always want to replace both springs on the door at the same time.

In your case, your door only has one spring, and your second spring is on another door. But many people here seem to have trouble reading past the topic title.

 

[vavet]

I would replace both. After that there are no worries in any way. I too,once had a garage with the door springs on the sides. Boy when that baby broke a piece of it went through the wall board on the back wall! These springs just make a Big Bang and spin on their shaft when they break.A better, safer design in my opinion.Good luck with your repair however you choose to continue.

The garage in my previous house had two single wide bays with the tension springs on the side. There was a small steel cable (1/8") running through the length of each of the 4 springs (one one each side of the two doors). The steel cable was tied off at each end. I never paid much attention to it until one of the springs failed. I was able to buy them off-the-shelf at the local big box store and install them. I also installed wire rope saddle clamps on each end instead of just knotting it around the perforated angle, which didn't seem terribly secure.
It's not a visually pleasing installation because it is so cluttered with the track, spring, cable, etc, but it's nice to be able to repair yourself for not much money and low danger factor.
Our new house has the big torsion spring in the garage.

And for the record, my opinion is to replace them both, unless one side sees significantly less use than the other (one is where you or wife park DD and the other is your workshop or your Saturday night cruiser parking).You'll probably pay a basic service charge that includes maybe an hour of labor. The second spring would probably be half the cost of the first.

 

[ezriderga]

Garage door springs wear by the number of uses.
If you open both doors about equally, then it is reasonable to expect both to need spring replacement at around the same time. If you hardly ever open the second door, then the springs in that door might last indefinitely.

A lot of the posts on this thread refer to the normal situation that a door has two springs. In such a case, it is common for one spring to fail first (I mean really, what are the odds of both failing at the same time?). In that case, you would always want to replace both springs on the door at the same time.

In your case, your door only has one spring, and your second spring is on another door. But many people here seem to have trouble reading past the topic title.

Yes, there are two single doors with a spring on each door. The one that broke does see more use than the other one. With that being said, they are 17 years old so I will probably go ahead and have them both replaced. I just got off the phone with the garage repair guy and he will be here this afternoon. Thanks again for all the positive input.

 

[Git]

Just like with any project - accidents happen. How many people have been crushed by a car they were working under? Yet most of us do not think anything about it.

Family Handyman magazine has and excellent article about replacing these "killer' springs. Use the right tools, exercise the proper caution and it is a very simple project.

http://www.familyhandyman.com/doors...ced-garage-overhead-door-repairs/step-by-step

 

[WWShop]

Replace both, save a future headache.

 

[CJ7VFR]

...With that being said, they are 17 years old so I will probably go ahead and have them both replaced. I just got off the phone with the garage repair guy and he will be here this afternoon. Thanks again for all the positive input.

Good choice to replace the spring on each door now instead of just replacing the broken one!

The cost of doing them both at the same time is going to be cheaper since the garage door guy will already be there at your house. If you did just one door now, and then had to call the guy to come back out again to replace the other spring, the total of those two trips out to your house would be higher than doing both springs in one shot.

And like you said, the springs are 17 years old, and it is just a matter of time before that second spring failed, even if it is installed on the door that is not used as much.

And just the piece of mind alone, that you now have two new springs, is worth it!

Jim

 

[Tundruz]

I hate to say this, but that will probably just insult him

I wouldn't call it an insult if you ask him if he was going to weigh it. Knowing that it gets done now rather than have him have to come back and recheck or replace an incorrect spring. If i'm paying for a service I'd like to know it's getting done right the first time, especially if i have to take time off to be there. Plus you'll know for future reference.

 

[Falcon67]

Our single spring on the house door just broke. $55 for the spring, $75 to come out and install - easy decision to just pay and be done with it.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I wouldn't call it an insult if you ask him if he was going to weigh it....Plus you'll know for future reference.

I would ask the guy in a manner that would make it look like you want to know how it's done.

Something like, "Hey, I have always wanted to know how heavy my garage doors are. How do you weigh them?" Or something like that.

If you ask it like you really are curious, most people are more than happy to tell you, or show you so you will know for yourself. I do this all the time whenever I have people come out to my house to do stuff. One reason is I am actually curious how the stuff gets done, even if it is just for my own knowledge.

Jim

 

[kbuhagiar]

I would ask the guy in a manner that would make it look like you want to know how it's done.

Something like, "Hey, I has always wanted to know how heavy my garage doors are. How do you weigh them?" Or something like that.

If you ask it like you really are curious, most people are more than happy to tell you, or show you so you will know for yourself. I do this all the time whenever I have people come out to my house to do stuff. One reason is I am actually curious how the stuff gets done, even if it is just for my own knowledge.

Jim

+1

It's all in how you frame the inquiry.

 

[ard]

Id clamp the cable to the side rails with the door all the way down. Then lift the door up and slide a bathroom scale under. The cables no longer hold any weight, the weight of the door is on the scale.

 

[rlitman]

Id clamp the cable to the side rails with the door all the way down. Then lift the door up and slide a bathroom scale under. The cables no longer hold any weight, the weight of the door is on the scale.

The cables aren't holding any weight now that the spring is broken. No need to clamp anything before the spring is replaced.

 

[swharris]

I've always replaced them in pairs. Amazon, $75 shipped for 2 springs and the rods, done. Had one spring break on my old house right before selling it, and then one spring break on my new door right after moving in, so 2 sets in 4 months.

Respect the spring and it is not a big deal to do, use the wrong tools or do not respect the spring, then you can be seriously injured. Also, try to keep 2 bars in the spring at all times, or as much as you can. (I know you need to remove one to put the next one in) Mark your bars with the depth of the spring with electrical tape so you know if you do not get the bar into the spring correctly.

http://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/replace-garage-door-torsion-springs.php

Agree completely. Making absolutely certain the tools are seated FULLY in the holes is paramount. Marking them makes it certain you are accomplishing this. Getting the proper diameter rods is also a must.

Respect the spring like you would a firearm. No different. Neither is inherently overtly dangerous...until used carelessly or improperly.