How Long Does a Garage Door Spring Last?
It’s a good practice to take the utmost care of your garage door. Most people think garage doors once fixed last forever. Garage doors are held in place by springs. These springs are of different sizes and life cycles. The life cycle is based on use, which is the number of opening and closing of a door. The more a garage door is put into use the more its lifespan depreciates and vice versa.
There are mainly two types of garage door springs, torsion and extension, and each one has its own unique installation method and life cycle.
Torsion Springs’ Life Expectancy: Torsion springs are installed at the top and middle of the garage door. They function by lifting the door as well as holding it in place. They need to be replaced by a professional when damaged. Torsion springs usually have 5,000-20,000 cycles which means they can last between 7 to 12 years (and even more).
Extension Springs’ Life Expectancy: Extension springs are installed at the side of the door and act extend, rather than contract (as does the torsion spring). They have 15,000 and 20,000 cycles which equate 7 – 12 years of life expectancy.
How can I determine the garage door spring’s lifespan?
One opening and closing is considered one life cycle. So how can we determine the overall cycle?
To determine the life cycle of a garage door spring, you need to consider the most important factors listed below:
- The size of the wire
- The diameter of the spring
- The length of the spring
- The weight of the door
In most garage doors for residential homes, the life cycle of springs is mostly 10,000, 20,000, or even 30,000 cycles.
The selection of springs for your garage doors begins with knowing the weight of the door.
Say your door weighs about 185 Ibs with the weight of the insulation include, to get a 10,000 cycle, a combination of 207x2x20 will be required.
Springs with longer life cycles have thicker wires. These wires are tougher and can withstand more stretching and bending than thinner wires do. The thicker the wire the more expensive the spring.
An illustration is given below
Let’s assume the weight of a door is 165 Ibs you have two few options of spring system to adopt.
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- To get 10,000 cycles the dimension of spring to be used should be 207x2x22
- To get 20,000 cycles the dimension of springs to be used should be 218x2x26
- To get 30,000 cycles the dimension of springs to be used should be 225x2x33
You will get approximately 7 years on every 10,000 cycles before the spring reaches its limit and breaks.
It’s far better using the sturdier springs for your garage door than the smaller ones. You will end up spending more money if you use the smaller springs, ending up replacing them more often.
Some factors are not put into account when determining the life cycle of a garage spring. Such factors are extreme corrosion, high humidity climate, and chips in the metal. The life span might not reach the expected amount of cycles when these factors are present. To increase the spring’s life span, frequent lubrication of the door mechanism and appropriate maintenance are required. This should be done for all the moving parts of the garage door. Get a high-quality lubricant (lithium-based) from your local hardware store, or call a professional for a tune-up.
You can get a spring replacement for your garage door from a local company. However, make sure the replacement is done by a reputable company, that you make sure the door operates smoothly right after the replacement, and that you get a warranty. We do not recommend replacing a garage door spring by yourself; springs can be dangerous due to the high pressure they operate on, which can harm you if not done properly. Special tools and skills are required.
Let Us Replace Your Garage Door Springs
If you’re in Madison, WI or the surrounding areas and you need to replace your garage door springs or convert from extension to torsion springs, give Madison Local Garage Door Pros a call at (608) 515-1449 or contact us online to schedule your service today!