Average Cost to Repair a Garage Door Spring

On This Page:

1. Cost to Repair or Replace Garage Door Springs
   • What You Need to Know About Garage Door Springs
2. How to Repair Garage Door Springs
3. When to Hire a Garage Door Pro

How Much Does it Cost to Repair Garage Door Springs?

Over time, the springs in your garage door can wear down and break. While the average cost to repair garage door springs is between $100 and $200, in some cases you may need to replace them instead. Replacement can cost $20-$30 for springs plus labor which can cost up to $180. Here are some signs to watch out for when determining whether repair or replacement is the right course of action:

• Squeaking or excessive noise: This typically indicates that your springs have worn down a little bit and need some lubricant. If you still hear a lot of noise after lubricating the springs, consult a professional to determine whether you need to replace them.
• Balance issues: If you have a hard time opening and closing your garage door, then your springs are likely out of balance. Consider having them refitted before more parts of your door break.
• Lack of safety cables: If you have extension springs instead of torsion coil springs, then your garage door needs to have safety cables. These cables provide an additional layer of safety so a broken spring doesn’t cause your garage door to fall on someone. Have these installed right away.
• Broken springs: If your springs break, replace them with new ones.

When you have a garage door spring repaired, make sure to use enough lubricant so it continues to work smoothly and doesn’t get too tense. Excessive tension increases the likelihood that the spring will break.

You should also have your garage door springs tuned on a regular basis so your door continues to work efficiently. A tune up usually entails making sure the springs don’t squeak or appear out of balance. Be sure to have an experienced garage door professional do this.

What You Need to Know About Garage Door Springs

When repairing your garage door springs, keep in mind the following basics:

• Springs are part of the door. The springs make raising and lowering the door much easier.
• Springs last a long time. Most springs last about 10,000 cycles. Over time though, they weaken and will eventually break.
• Springs are the most likely parts to break. When your garage door malfunctions, the springs are the part you’ll most often need to have repaired or replaced.
• There are two different types of springs. Your garage door uses either extension springs or torsion coil springs.
  • Extension springs counterbalance the garage door’s weight raises or lowers.
  • Torsion coil springs add extra lifting power as the door is raised, which can help the motor to save some energy.
• Garage door springs cost about $20 to $30 each. Installation costs for either extension springs or torsion coil springs vary depending on the professional you contract and the amount of labor required. You could pay up to $180 to replace them.

How to Repair Garage Door Springs

Garage door springs are under a lot of tension, which means repairing or replacing them puts you and your fingers in danger. You should leave most of these repairs to a professional, but if you’re comfortable in your abilities, you can take on some minor repairs as a DIY project. Some repairs you can make include:

• Lubricating the springs
• Adjusting the tension on a spring when the door seems out of balance
• Tightening any loose screws or nuts around the springs
• Checking the cable feed near the springs

If you take on some of these repairs yourself, some risks that come with repairing garage springs are:

• Locating a retailer that sells the springs or accessories
• Selecting the replacement springs
• Getting stuck inside or outside of your garage

When to Hire a Garage Door Pro

Consider contracting an experienced pro when your garage door springs need repair or replacing. A pro will do the following work when replacing the springs:

• Turn off power to the garage door so it doesn’t accidentally move up or down. This is also a safety precaution so that no fingers or hands get caught in the springs during replacement.
• Measure your existing door springs to make sure the new springs are the exact same size.
• Unwind the existing extension springs. Since the garage door will lower during this process, it’s important to make sure any hands, feet, tools, or other objects aren’t placed anywhere near it.
• Install the new springs and tighten them with screws. Check to make sure the springs are balanced and lubricate them thoroughly.
• Wind up the springs and prepare for the garage door to start moving again.
• Lubricate the garage door so that it moves easily with the new springs.
• Turn on power to the garage door and test the new springs.

Hiring a professional to handle garage door spring repair and replacement tends to be a much easier and safer option for homeowners. Removing or repairing garage springs can be a dangerous job, but professionals have the experience and equipment to do it safely and efficiently. Unless your springs only need a minor repair, such as lubrication or fixing a minor balance issue, be sure to call in a local garage door pro to do the job.