replace garage door springs before they break?

[Innovate1]

Have had garage door torsion springs in place for about 16 years. We haven't parked cars inside much but it still gets used almost daily. I had the springs tightened quite a few years ago when the door got heavy to lift and the opener was having trouble. Now noticing the door needs it again as the door is heavy and not balanced by the springs. I could just tighten the springs a bit but wondering about replacing the springs. Saw a video where they replaced the springs and shaft bearings and it didn't appear the springs had broken. Do people normally just wait until they break? What's the typical life? (I just have standard duty springs as far as I know) It's a CHI door. Am I overthinking this or should I replace the springs?

 

[swavescatter]

Going through this now. My insulated 16x7 door is HEAVY. A spring broke and the door slammed closed just as my son was walking out. I weighed the door and it was 245 lbs. Could have killed him.

My advice is to weigh your door first. Don't trust the previous owner to have installed the right springs. Mine were two different lengths? Completely undersized and probably caused the failures I saw in the opener/door before.

Call the online vendors and order right size. It's pretty easy to do.

 

[Innovate1]

They are the original springs. We built the house and a reputable local company put the door in. Appreciate the reply but that's not the question. They loose some spring over time so they need to be tightened to maintain door balance. When is it time to skip tightening and replace?

 

[kbs2244]

Most people do not oil the torsion springs and they wear while rubbing on themselves
A yearly squirt of oil along the top of the roll will keep them happy for years

 

[tarmy]

I rebuilt my entire system at about the same time. Gotta do a lot of research on the proper parts, how to figure out the spring weight/length, how to unwind and wind the springs safely...not really that big a deal if you proceed carefully.

 

[plout99]

The original set on my door were replaced at 19 years of age after one broke. Second set lasted 17 years and were replaced 2 years ago. I plan to replace this set at the 15 year mark because the second set broke with both vehicles in the garage and at the worst possible time. The door is used 5-6 cycles a day so 15 years approximately 27000 cycles I figure I got my money out of them.

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

Basic springs are rated for a minimum of 10’000 cycles. One open one close is a cycle. If you have the presence of mind to be aware of your needs then replace them at your convenience, on your schedule. They never break on a good day.

 

[Wrench97]

16 years and the door is getting heavier to lift, it's time.

 

[Radio Flyer]

Basic springs are rated for a minimum of 10’000 cycles. One open one close is a cycle. If you have the presence of mind to be aware of your needs then replace them at your convenience, on your schedule. They never break on a good day.

Pretty much my thoughts. And it sounds like you would have a guy come out to re-adjust your current ones anyway, so there is a service call charge.

Sounds like your at the point of, replacing them now is a good option.


I just did some math on mine.....

4 cycles a day X 5 days a week (for work) X 52 weeks = 1040 cycles per year

Mine broke in 2001, 2011, and the door replaced in 2019.

That 10,000 cycles seems pretty accurate.

 

[Negen]

I have a Wayne Dalton garage door that has the cables and the torque master torsion spring. Broke some time in the summer I just been manually lifting the garage door. Boggles my mind how we can lift 100,000 ton boat out of the water with a few cables and motor but lifting garage doors that only weigh a few hundred pounds needs all kinds of doo hickys. It seems any of the good garage door openers require 3 phase power. I hate springs and hate that all the good stuff requires 3 phase power.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Wrench97]

3 phase power?
The door if installed correctly should be well balanced and lift with one hand.
Not to mention 3 phase is not a power ratting

 

[Hack Fabrication]

Why am I feeling this thread just jinxed my garage door....

 

[Negen]

Lift it without springs? Sorry I implied 3 phase as power rating. But most the 2-5 hp openers require 3 phase electrical source. Most are 208V, 230V and 460V, 575V. These do not require springs my installer told me. Application will probably be denied but won't know for 5 months or so I am told. Otherwise I and looking into the chains the pull chains also I am told do not require springs.

3 phase power?
The door if installed correctly should be well balanced and lift with one hand.
Not to mention 3 phase is not a power ratting

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[mepstein]

If you think it’s time it probably is.

 

[CoogarXR]

I just had a door company come out and replace both my springs. One had broken. It was less than $200, so it's not a huge deal. Cheap enough that I didn't want to risk injury trying it myself.

 

[MikeF2316]

I'll replace mine when it breaks. I oil the spring as mentioned by kbs2244, so I'm hoping it never happens.

 

[Innovate1]

I figure about 1 cycle per day. If every day that's only 365 cycles per year. So I should be good for over 20 years. I had someone come out last time to adjust the door but figured I would do it myself this time so no real cost other than time. Think I will adjust and let it go a few more years. I did consider switching places on the openers. One is on a double door and one on a single. I figure that will even out the wear on them. The single also gets used a lot less.

 

[bradpac]

where is the best place to buy replacement springs. I had one extension spring break on my door, would be nice to get some new ones installed.

 

[Showkey]

I'll replace mine when it breaks. I oil the spring as mentioned by kbs2244, so I'm hoping it never happens.

Agree^^^^^^^^^^^^

4 doors all with original springs, all are 22 year old, replace when they break.

Also think garage doors are sold in builder, good, better, best grades.......so life expectancy can highly variable.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Basic springs are rated for a minimum of 10’000 cycles. One open one close is a cycle. If you have the presence of mind to be aware of your needs then replace them at your convenience, on your schedule. They never break on a good day.

I had a spring break some years back. I asked the repair guy how long they typically lasted and he also told me 10,000 cycles. I did some calculations and estimated that was very close to how many actual cycles my door had gone through.

 

[Stuart in MN]

where is the best place to buy replacement springs. I had one extension spring break on my door, would be nice to get some new ones installed.

I did a quick search and there are several garage door suppliers local to you in Tyler, TX - I'd call around to see if you can get them locally, instead of having to order them from someplace.

 

[sr71]

I replaced mine this summer. Ordered from a company called "express garage door parts". Fairly easy job.. just have to be careful.

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

Just a note about lubricating the spring. Yes it’s a good idea to reduce friction between the coils, but if you look carefully, you will find the coils gain space between them as the door goes up. But the easiest way to gain time on your springs is to Leave the door open as much as possible. The springs in the relaxed position are close to 0 pressure. We normally estimate about 10 lbs of tension on the springs when open to keep tension on the cables so they don’t slip off the drums.