Should I replace one garage door spring or both?

On a two-spring door, we typically replace both. The springs went in at the same time and have completed the same number of cycles, so when one breaks the other is usually near the end of its life too. Replacing only the broken spring often leads to a second service call not long after.

Why a matched pair matters

• Balance. A new spring paired with a worn one can lift unevenly, which puts extra load on the cables, drums and opener.
• Fewer visits. Doing both at once avoids another trip, and another diagnostic fee, when the second spring fails.
• Correct sizing. Both springs are chosen together to suit the door's weight and height.

No one can predict the exact day the remaining spring will break. We inspect the pair and explain the cost of replacing both, and you decide before work starts.

Doors with a single spring

Some doors, often lighter one-car doors, are built with one torsion spring. In that case we fit a correctly sized replacement for the door's weight. Extension spring doors use a spring on each side, and those are normally replaced as a pair for the same reasons as a two-spring torsion door.

Other parts to check at the same time

Cables and drums sometimes fail along with a spring, and they are replaced when they have. Repair visits carry a $45 diagnostic trip fee, and every repair price is written and approved by you first. See spring replacement for what the visit includes.

Read more

• Fixing a garage door spring
• Torsion springs guide
• Garage door spring replacement

Related questions

• Why did my garage door spring break so soon?
• Can I use or close my garage door with a broken spring?
• How long do garage door springs last?
• How can I tell if a garage door spring is broken?
• Should I convert my old extension springs to torsion springs?

Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.