Garage door spring replacement

Torsion or tension: which does my door have?

Look above the opening. A steel shaft running across the head of the door with one or two coiled springs on it means torsion springs. If the springs run front to back beside the horizontal tracks, or sit in the vertical side frames, the door uses tension springs. Many standard domestic doors use tension springs; larger, heavier and timber doors and doors with a pass door usually use torsion springs.

How do I know a spring has broken?

You may hear a loud bang from the garage, then find the door heavy, opening only a little, or the motor straining. A broken torsion spring shows a visible gap in the coil. A failed tension spring may hang loose or be held by its safety device.

Why is spring work not DIY?

Springs store a lot of energy. Winding a torsion spring needs proper winding bars, and releasing tension carelessly can cause serious injury or let the door fall. Please do not attempt it.

Should both springs be replaced?

Where a door has two springs, they have done the same number of cycles, so when one breaks the other is often close behind. Replacing both together, and checking the cables at the same time, is usually better value than a second visit.

How long do springs last?

Springs are rated in cycles, one open and one close. Several manufacturers rate their springs at about 25,000 cycles, while some standard springs are rated lower. In everyday use many springs need replacing after something like eight to twelve years, sooner on a door that opens many times a day.

Does the spring need to match the door?

Yes. The spring is sized to the door weight, the drum or pulley and the track layout, so wire size, length and diameter matter. We identify the right spring before fitting.

What options are there?

• Torsion or tensionBoth spring systems covered.
• Single or pairReplace one or both springs.
• Correct sizingMatched to door weight.
• Rebalance and cable checkDoor set to stay part-open; cables checked at the same time.

Key facts

Visit	Chargeable; price agreed before we come
Parts	Springs sized to your door
Typical rating	Often about 25,000 cycles; some standard springs lower
Guide price	£180–£380 inc VAT

Who is it for?

Best suited to doors that suddenly feel heavy, will not lift, or after a bang from the garage.

How are visits priced?

We agree the visit price before we come; parts and any further work are priced before we do them. See typical figures on our price list.