How long do garage door springs last?

Torsion springs on a typical residential door last roughly 5 to 7 years, or around 10,000 cycles. How long that is for you depends on how often the door goes up and down. A cycle is one full open and one full close, so a household that uses the door several times a day gets through its springs faster than one that opens it once.

What the numbers mean

Garaga, a garage door manufacturer, says the average garage door torsion springs will last somewhere between 5-7 years, and should last around 10,000 cycles.^[1] Its example is a door opened and closed 3 to 5 times a day.^[1]

You can work out your own timeline. At four cycles a day, 10,000 cycles is a little under seven years. At eight a day, with two cars and school runs, it is closer to three and a half. Springs sold as high-cycle are made to last longer; ask a technician what rating your door has.

What shortens a spring's life

Wear is not the only factor. Garaga says the steel in the springs can start to weaken as the door is opened and closed over time, and that torsion springs can also be affected by rust and cold weather.^[1]

Other things that matter:

• Balance. A door that is heavier than its springs were sized for puts extra strain on them. Adding insulation or a heavier panel, or a bent section, changes the weight.
• Friction. Dry rollers, hinges and bearings make the springs work harder. LiftMaster tells owners to oil the door rollers, bearings and hinges and not to grease the door tracks.^[2]
• Rust. Damp garages can speed corrosion of the coils, which may lead to a break before the rated cycles.
• Wrong size. Springs are sized to the door's weight, and a spring that does not match the door may wear out early.

Looking after them

You cannot service the springs yourself, but you can slow the wear around them. The CPSC recommends inspecting the door and opener every 30 days.^[3] A simple monthly check is to watch and listen as the door moves, looking for jerking, a sag to one side or new noises.

The CPSC's balance test is useful too: a properly operating door is "balanced," which means it will stay in place when stopped in any partially open position.^[3] If yours drifts, the springs have probably lost tension. Lubricate rollers and hinges, and see how to lubricate a garage door.

A yearly visit from a technician is a good time to have springs checked for gaps, rust and wear. See how often a garage door should be serviced.

When springs should be replaced

When a spring breaks it has done its job; it does not need to be nursed along. A broken spring is a safety problem, because Garaga warns that a garage door with a broken torsion spring can fall rapidly and cause injury or death.^[1] If one spring fails and the other is the same age, ask the technician about replacing both. See how to know if a garage door spring is broken.

When to call a licensed pro

For any spring or cable work. Clopay says springs, cables and bottom fixtures are under strong spring tension, and not to attempt to loosen any fasteners on these components.^[4] That includes the brackets at the bottom corners of the door.

Hiring someone also has a legal side. DPOR's consumer guide says that if the work is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work.^[5] The same guide says unlicensed contracting is against the law.^[5] Ask for the licence number and check it with the Board for Contractors.

For the cost of a replacement, read how much garage door spring replacement costs in Virginia. To understand the parts, see how garage door springs work.

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