How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last

Maintaining a home is never a fun task. In many cases, homeowners are only home long enough to cook and sleep. Most do not have time to concern themselves with the maintenance of their home. Unfortunately, without the proper maintenance, items will break down and cost you a lot more money. A garage door is no exception to maintenance. Garage doors have so many working parts and on average will open and close up to 10,000 times during their lifespan. How long do garage door springs last? That depends on the environmental conditions and how often you use your garage door.

Let’s take a look below at more details regarding garage door springs replacement.

What Are Garage Door Springs

Garage door springs are in place to maintain the tension and resistance of the door. Additionally, they allow your garage door to open and close in a smooth manner. The two types of garage door springs are torsion and extension springs.

• Torsion springs – this type of spring mounts horizontally on the garage wall directly above the garage door.
• Extension springs – these are mounted on the sides of the garage door track. They extended and contract as the garage door is opened and closed.

How Long Do They Last

Determining how long the springs last can be fairly difficult. Too many factors can determine the lifespan of the springs. Let’s take a look below at what those factors might be.

• Garage door usage – if you use the garage door four times a day or 10,000 cycles, you are likely going to need to replace the garage door springs after seven years.
• Environment – if you live in an area that gets cold weather or high humidity, the garage door springs can rust or become corroded a lot faster. This makes the springs weaker and not able to function properly. Environmental conditions could shorten life expectancy.
• Heavy garage door – there are some very fancy garage doors, that based on their materials make them very heavy. Custom doors, glass doors, double doors, and even some wood doors can put increased stress on the garage door springs, causing them to wear down a lot quicker.

When Do I Know It Is Time To Replace Them

If you aren’t sure when to replace your springs and are concerned that they might be breaking down soon, review the checklist below. These are the most common signs that you need to replace the springs.

• Gaps – if you have a gap between the coils and springs you should look to replace the springs.
• Poorly functioning – if the garage door struggles to open and close smoothly you will need to replace the springs.
• Balance or alignment – when the garage door is not balanced or aligned it means the springs might have given out and need to be replaced.
• Safety – if you notice that the safety cables are missing or have issues, then it is time to replace the garage door springs.
• Noisy door – when the garage door begins to squeak or bang about, it is likely time to replace the garage door springs.
• Wear and tear – if the garage door cables are worn out, frayed, or rusted, you will need to replace the garage door springs.

How Much Are They

Replacing your springs should cost you between $200 to $400. Depending on who you hire as your garage door specialist and if they take apart the entire bracketing system determines how much you will actually pay. So, like any other project, your cost breakdown is based on materials and hourly rate.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you know how long garage door springs last, you should read up on how long your actual garage door lasts. Knowing how long the garage door lasts can help you understand when the various parts and pieces of the garage door might break down.

Next, it might be a good idea to read your homeowner’s insurance policy. If your garage door is getting old, you might want to find out if the garage door and its working parts are covered under the insurance policy. In most cases, it is not, however, you could have special warranty coverage within the insurance policy.

Lastly, if you are looking to have your garage door replaced, it most likely had suffered some sort of damage. Typically, wind damage is the culprit in reducing the lifespan of a garage door. If you experience high winds a lot, you should get a wind mitigation inspection. Wind mitigation inspections look at your roof and the entire home’s exterior to determine the ability of the home to withstand extreme wind conditions.

When Do I Call A Professional

When it comes to repairs to the parts of your garage door, you should contact your local professional garage door specialist. They have the experience and knowledge when it comes to replacing difficult parts like a garage door spring. For your safety, hiring a professional is your best bet. If you aren’t sure who to hire, call on your local home inspection team. They can inspect the garage door during a full home inspection. Also, they will recommend a reputable local professional garage door specialist.

Conclusion

Being adventurous and taking on replacing garage door parts is likely not the best idea. When it comes to replacing the springs you will want to hire a professional. If the springs are not removed properly, they could end up hurting you or causing death. Knowing when to replace the springs can be difficult for a homeowner. Call on your local home inspection team to inspect your garage door and its working parts. Reach out to, Advantage Inspections to have your garage door inspected during a full home inspection here in West Central, Florida.