How much does Spring repair cost?

Springs are an important part of a garage door’s operation. They provide tension to counterbalance the door’s weight, which reduces the strain of lifting it open and prevents it from slamming shut. That makes it easier on the automatic garage door opener, or on your body if you operate the garage door manually.

If a garage door won’t open and close smoothly and easily, that’s often because you have a faulty or broken spring, which needs to be replaced. These springs have a life expectancy of 7–9 years, or about 10,000 open-and-close cycles, according to “Big Mike” Parks, owner of  A Better Garage Door, Inc. near Denver, Colorado.

You might have a problem with your garage door springs if:

A garage door repair service will have the tools and knowhow to replace garage door springs safely. Read on to learn about the typical cost of having this home-improvement task done by a pro.

The national average cost for garage door spring repairs is $200, with a typical price range of $119–279, including parts and labor. 

Most garage door repair service companies charge a minimum of $75–100 for a service call. That often covers an hour of work; after that, labor rates are $40–100 per hour. Garage door spring replacement usually takes about 2 hours.

If your garage door seems unbalanced and makes squealing or squeaking noises when operating, it may simply need a tune-up, which generally includes lubricating the springs and making a few adjustments. A complete tune-up by a garage door company typically costs $50–100, which may be covered by the service-call fee if no other repairs are needed.

There are 2 main types of garage door springs, with different replacement costs.

Torsion springs are typically installed on modern sectional or roll-up garage doors. (Most double-door garages have 2 torsion springs.)

They’re mounted on a bar with brackets inside the front wall of the garage, above the door opening, and connected to drums on the sides of the door.  Cables attached to the bottom of the garage door wind and unwind around the drums, and the springs provide tension that assists in lifting and lowering the door.

After many cycles, garage door torsion springs can lose tension or sometimes break, and will need to be replaced. (If you have a double door, you’ll probably need to replace both.) New springs cost $30–70 apiece, depending on the size and grade. Labor costs for torsion spring replacement generally run from $75–125 for a single spring, or $150–250 for a pair.

Extension springs are used with older-style, one-piece tilt-up garage doors (usually in pairs, with one spring on each side). They’re mounted at right angles to the garage door, along with a system of cables and pulleys along the upper sections of the door tracks. There should be safety cables threaded through the center of the springs—and attached at each end above the garage door tracks—to prevent the door from slamming down if an extension spring breaks. 

Extension springs typically have a shorter lifespan than torsion springs. Within a few years of operation they become overstretched, lose tension, and should be replaced. (If one extension spring breaks or loses tension, both should be replaced.) A pair of new extension springs costs about $40–80; labor for replacing them typically runs $130–160. 

These issues can affect the price of garage door spring repair or replacement. 

These tips can help you limit the costs of garage door spring repair.

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

Garage door spring replacement costs mainly depend on the type of spring. Replacing a torsion spring typically costs $180–320, including parts and labor. If you have 2, you’ll usually need to replace both, at about double the cost.  Extension springs—typically used with tilt-up garage doors—are almost always installed in pairs. Replacing both costs about $170–240.

Can I replace a garage door spring myself?

Replacing a broken garage door spring is a complex, potentially dangerous job (especially with torsion springs, which are under a high amount of tension). Most homeowners will want to hire a garage door pro, who has the tools and experience to replace springs safely and correctly. You’ll typically pay $75–100 for a service call, plus $40–100 per hour for additional labor. 

How long do garage springs last?

Garage door springs typically last 7–9 years, or about 10,000 up-and-down cycles. If you have 2 springs and 1 loses tension or breaks, you’ll usually have to pay to replace both of them.

Find a garage door repair professional in your area.

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