If you are a homeowner with a garage, you must be aware that springs play a crucial role in opening and closing your garage doors. Put simply, garage door springs perform the crucial task of supporting the weight of your garage doors as you close and open them. Typical garage doors weigh a lot — at least over 100 pounds. Without these springs, it would be challenging for you and your garage door opener to work. These springs make it easy for you to open and close the door as they store and release the energy that does majority of the work for you.
The shelf life of garage door springs is about 7 to 8 years based on how often you use them, and over time, you can expect them to wear out. However, the good news is that you can easily replace them. You can replace a garage door spring by either hiring a professional or purchasing a new one and replacing it yourself. If you choose to move ahead with the second option, then you may think, “How do I choose the right garage door spring?” In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about garage door springs — to help you make the right choice.
Why Should You Maintain and Replace Garage Door Springs?
If you properly maintain and replace your garage door springs, they can last for a long time. If you’ve installed and maintained the high-quality parts of the spring, it can last for years and help protect your costly doors. As mentioned above, garage door springs can last up to 8 years depending on the way they’ve been kept, how often they’ve been used, and even climatic conditions.
Choosing the Torsion Spring for a Garage Door
Garage door torsion springs are mounted over the top of the door in a horizontal manner. Here’s how you can choose the torsion spring for a garage door.
1. Determining the sizing of the wire
Determining the wire size is one of the most important aspects when selecting the right torsion spring for a garage door. This helps you determine the exact size of the spring to choose. All you need to do is measure the overall length of the spring, which should be at least 10 to 20 coils. Once you have the measurement (in inches), use wire size charts to find the right spring to purchase.
2. Don’t Forget to Measure the Inside Diameter
For the majority of garage doors, the inside diameter will be measured between the springs above the garage door. It is measured to the nearest 1/6 inch. In any case, if you do not have that, you always have the choice to measure it yourself, and to do this you will have to remove the spring. It is regarded as a difficult task, which is why it is best to call a professional. It is important to measure the inside diameter because it will help you choose the spring that will fit right and release the right amount of force.
3. Measure the Length
If you want to know how to purchase the right torsion spring of a garage door, you will have to measure the overall length, which determines the winding capacity of the spring. In order to do this, you’ll have to measure the length from one end to the other end of the spring.
It is measured to the nearest ¼ inch. If the spring is too short, it would be difficult to open the door so it is recommended to measure the door only when it is closed.
The Bottom Line — How Much Does a Garage Door Spring Cost?
Now that you have a fair idea about how to choose the garage door spring, let’s talk about expenses. If you want to replace a spring, it may cost you around $120 to $300. If you end up contacting the right manufacturer, you can also get springs that cost less than $20. However, cheaper ones do not last long and you’ll end up buying another one in a short time.
The overall cost of garage door springs depends on where you purchase them from and their count. Another important thing for you to consider is the cost of spring replacement services as different companies have varying prices. Regardless, getting your springs replaced with newer ones shouldn’t cost you more than $500.