Should You Replace One or Both Garage Door Springs?
Should You Replace One or Both Garage Door Springs?
Serving the Inland Empire — Beaumont, Riverside, San Bernardino & beyond. Veteran-owned, upfront pricing, fully insured.
Call (951) 499-5533On a two-spring garage door, you should almost always replace both springs at the same time. Both springs were installed together and have the same number of wear cycles, so the surviving spring is near the end of its life. Replacing the pair costs $230 to $360 installed and prevents a second service call within weeks. On a single-spring door, replace the one broken spring.
The Case for Replacing Both Springs
Garage door springs are sold and installed in matched pairs for a reason: they are sized together to distribute the door weight equally. When one spring breaks, the other has almost always traveled the same number of cycles and is under the same fatigue stress.
Replacing only the broken spring leaves you with a brand-new spring on one side and a worn spring on the other. The imbalance causes:
- Uneven door travel — one side rises faster than the other, binding in the tracks
- Premature failure of the new spring, which now does more than its share of the work
- Accelerated wear on the opener motor, cables, and rollers
- A second service call — and a second labor charge — within a few weeks
Replacing both springs in a single visit costs $230 to $360 for a matched pair versus $150 to $250 for one spring. The small difference in cost buys you a balanced door and avoids a repeat call.
When Replacing Just One Spring Is Acceptable
There are limited situations where a single spring replacement makes sense:
- Your door has only one torsion spring to begin with (common on single-car garage doors)
- The remaining spring is relatively new — installed within the last year or two — and the failure was due to a manufacturing defect rather than end-of-life wear
- Budget constraints require prioritizing the most urgent fix, with an explicit plan to replace the second spring soon
Our technician will measure both springs, check their condition, and give you an honest recommendation. We never push a sale you do not need.
Call (951) 499-5533
Torsion Springs vs. Extension Springs — Does It Change the Answer?
For torsion springs (mounted on a bar above the door): replace the pair when two are installed. Both share the load and wear at the same rate.
For extension springs (mounted along the horizontal track, one on each side): always replace both. Extension springs work in opposition, and an imbalance between a new and worn spring is more immediately dangerous. Also verify that the safety cables inside each spring are intact — these prevent the spring from becoming a projectile if it snaps suddenly.
High-Cycle Springs — Worth the Upgrade?
Standard springs are rated for 10,000 cycles — about seven to nine years for most IE households. High-cycle springs are available in 15,000 and 20,000-cycle ratings for $50 to $100 more per spring. If you use the garage as your main entrance and open the door six or more times a day, the upgrade pays for itself in extended life and one fewer service call in your home's future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to replace one spring or both?
One spring costs $150 to $250 installed. A matched pair runs $230 to $360. The incremental cost of adding the second spring is modest — and replacing both avoids a second service call (and second labor fee) within weeks when the surviving spring fails.
What happens if I only replace one spring on a two-spring door?
The door will be unbalanced — one side with a fresh spring, one with a worn spring. This causes uneven travel, accelerated wear on the opener and cables, and a high likelihood that the second spring fails within weeks or months.
How do I know if my garage door has one or two torsion springs?
Look at the bar above the door opening when it is closed. If you see two springs with a gap between them in the middle, you have a two-spring system. A single spring runs the full length of the bar. Our technician confirms this in the first minute of the visit.
How long do garage door springs last after replacement?
Standard replacement springs are rated for 10,000 cycles — about seven to nine years for a household opening the door four to six times daily. High-cycle springs (20,000 cycles) are available and recommended for high-use doors.
Can I balance my garage door myself after a spring replacement?
We strongly advise against it. Winding a torsion spring to the correct tension requires specialty winding bars and training. An incorrectly wound spring can release violently. Let a trained technician perform the balance test and final adjustment.
Why Inland Empire Homeowners Choose Goodies
Goodies Garage Door & Repair is veteran-owned and serves the Inland Empire with 4,311+ repairs completed. We give you a firm price before any work begins, show up same-day, and back every job with a written warranty. Old-School Service. New-Age Skill.
Same-day service, upfront pricing, fully insured across the Inland Empire.
Call (951) 499-5533
