Garage Door Spring Archives - Mesa Garage Doors

How to Choose the Best Garage Door Spring for Your Needs

Choosing the right garage door spring lets this relatively small part perform heavy lifting, providing your doors with smoother and safer operation. At Mesa Garage Doors in Anaheim, California, we help homeowners choose the best garage door springs for their needs.

Types of Garage Door Springs

Garage door springs are mechanical components that compose part of your garage door’s counterbalance system and make it easier to open or close the door. There are two types of garage door springs, each with different features, installation requirements, and ideal applications.

Extension Springs

Extension springs are long, coiled springs mounted above the horizontal tracks on either side of the garage door. These springs support the garage by stretching and contracting. When the garage door closes, the extension springs out and absorb energy, then release the stored energy and contract to lift the door.

There are three types of extension springs:

Open-looped extension springs
Double-looped extension springs
Clipped-end extension springs

Torsion Springs

Torsion springs utilize torque, otherwise known as rotational energy, to lift the garage door. Typically mounted above the door opening and on a metal torsion shaft, torsion springs are rigid and tightly wound coils. When the door is closed, the spring is wound tightly to store potential energy. When the door opens, the coils release the torque by twisting the spring along the axis of the shaft.

There are several types of torsion springs to consider:

Standard torsion springs: The most common garage door spring style, standard torsion springs are durable, reliable, and suitable for heavy doors.
EZ-Set torsion springs: Designed for easier and less technical installations and adjustments. It uses a winding unit with fewer turns.
TorqueMaster springs: A unique torsion spring system that encases spring systems in metal tubes for additional safety.

Signs You Need New Garage Door Springs

Garage door springs wear out gradually from many cycles of closing and opening the door. As the springs begin to fail, your garage door’s operation may show these warning signs:

Door struggles to open: The door won’t lift fully, lowers slowly on its own, or stays shut.
Loud bang or snap: A sudden loud noise from the garage may indicate a spring has broken.
Door drops suddenly: If the door slams down or closes too fast, the springs have likely lost tension.
Uneven opening: The door may rise crookedly or jam if one spring fails.
Motor straining: The opener sounds like it’s working hard, but the door doesn’t move.
Visible gaps in the springs: A break or stretch in the coil often means the spring is at the end of its lifespan.
Cables are loose or detached: This can result from spring failure, especially in extension spring systems.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Garage Door Springs

Selecting the correct springs involves balancing safety, performance, and cost-efficiency.

Garage Door Weight

Garage door weights vary widely depending on the style and materials. Extension springs may be suitable for lightweight doors, while heavier doors may require the strength of torsion springs. If the spring is too weak or too strong for the door, it may cause the opener to strain, wear out more quickly, and fail prematurely.

Durability

Cycles refer to the full opening and closing of the garage door. Torsion springs offer high durability and longevity, lasting an average of 10,000 cycles or about 10 years, but sometimes reaching 20 years or more with high-quality parts. Extension springs typically require more frequent replacement and last between 5,000 and 10,000 cycles.

Performance

Torsion springs provide smoother and quieter performance than extension springs, which are sometimes louder and more prone to mechanical vibrations. Consider noise sensitivity — quieter operation may be more beneficial if your garage is attached to your home or located near bedrooms.

Safety

Torsion springs don’t stretch outward and are less likely to snap or cause injuries. Extension springs may require additional safety cables to prevent dangerous snapping if they break.

Space

The vertical mounting configuration of extension springs is compatible with small garages with limited overhead space.

Cost

Although torsion springs cost more upfront than extension springs, they often last longer and cost less over time.

Importance of Professional Garage Door Spring Installation

Garage door spring installation is a complex and potentially dangerous task that requires professional skills and experience. Springs operate under high tension, and improper handling may result in severe injuries or damage to your garage door system. Professionals rely on standardized safety practices and specialized tools to minimize hazards.

Duringprofessional garage door spring services, technicians’ expertise allows them to comprehensively assess your garage door system and select the right spring based on the door’s size, weight, and design. Proper garage door spring installation also involves calibrating the entire system for smooth performance. Technicians verify correct and safe operation by inspecting and adjusting tracks, cables, and other components.

Benefits of Quality Garage Door Springs

High-quality springs support your garage door system’s everyday performance and long-term reliability.

Optimal Operation

A quality spring evenly supports the door’s weight, minimizing strain on the opener, cables, and rollers. Such support improves the door’s response time and enables smoother opening and closing.

Enhanced Safety

Well-manufactured springs reduce the risk of sudden failure and dangerous situations by supporting the door’s weight and maintaining tension.

Extended System Lifespan

Better materials and design allow springs to withstand thousands of open-close cycles with minimal wear. Slower wear means that your springs last longer and require fewer frequent replacements throughout your garage door’s lifespan.

Fewer Repair Costs

High-quality springs may have higher upfront costs, but they often need fewer replacements and protect the rest of your system. Preventing premature wear on other parts reduces the risk of component failure and lowers long-term repair costs.

Schedule Garage Door Spring Replacement With Mesa

With decades of experience and a commitment to precision, Mesa Garage Doors provides high-quality spring replacement and other services tailored to your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services and schedule an inspection for your garage door springs.

Philip A. Saunders

Mr. Saunders serves as Mesa’s Vice President of Marketing, bringing with him a wealth of experience in strategic marketing and operations. In this role, Mr. Saunders is responsible for overseeing all marketing activities, utilizing a blend of traditional and digital strategies to enhance brand presence and profitability, managing a multi-million dollar marketing budget across various media platforms, and leading the continued implementation of CRM systems to streamline customer engagement and drive business growth.

www.philipasaunders.com

May 9, 2025/by Philip A. Saunders

How to Recognize When Your Garage Door Springs Need Replacement

Anaheim, CA, is home to Disneyland Resort, but the “City of Kindness” is also where many homeowners live, play, and work. If you’re a resident of Anaheim or another part of Southern California, it’s important to understand how to recognize when you may need garage door spring replacement. The experienced team at Mesa Garage Doors has some helpful tips about garage door springs and signs they may need replacement.

Why Garage Door Springs Are Essential to Your Door’s Functionality

Garage door springs work to counteract the weight of a heavy garage door. This makes it easier for the door to lift and lower, whether you do so manually or whether you use a garage door opener. If the springs are missing or broken, it’s much more difficult to lift the door. These springs provide smooth, seamless operation of your garage door, regardless of whether it’s manual or via a remote-controlled opener device.

Common Signs That Your Garage Door Springs Need Replacement

Here are some of the most common signs of a broken garage door spring and how to tell if a garage door spring is bad. If you notice any of these signs, the springs likely need replacement.

The Garage Door Won’t Fully Open

Since the springs bear most of the weight of your garage door, it won’t open if they’re broken or damaged. If the weight of the door is not supported properly, the opener may stop working to prevent the motor from burning out. If you notice that your garage door won’t fully open, it may be because you need to replace the springs.

Visible Gaps in Springs

Just like other types of springs, your garage door springs should be tightly wound. If you notice a visible gap in the springs, they could be about to snap or break in half. Inspect your garage door springs regularly to confirm that there are no gaps, and if you see any, contact Mesa Garage Doors right away for a professional replacement.

Garage Door Opens or Closes Unevenly

If you have torsion springs, they run parallel to the floor and across the door, and if you have extension springs, they run perpendicular to either side of the door. Whichever type of springs you have, they’ll cause the garage door to open or close unevenly if they’re broken or worn out.

Door Operates Erratically

Most modern garage door openers have a sensor that detects excess weight. However, if yours doesn’t have this feature, it may try to keep opening and closing the door, even if the spring is broken. If you notice that your garage door suddenly drops to the ground or lowers too fast, it may need a spring replacement.

Obvious Signs of Wear

Aside from gaps, your garage door springs may exhibit other signs of wear and tear, such as rust and corrosion. You might even hear the springs snap when you try to operate the door. Look for obvious signs of wear and tear, such as gaps, squeaking sounds, rust, stretched-out springs, or noisy garage door operation that may indicate it’s time to replace the springs.

How Long Do Garage Door Springs Typically Last?

The average garage door spring’s lifespan is between 7 to 10 years, or approximately 10,000 cycles. Torsion springs tend to last longer than extension springs. Oil-tempered springs can last approximately 10 years or 15,000 cycles. The lifespan of your garage door springs depends on a few factors, including how often you open and close your garage door, how often you get garage door spring maintenance, and how much wear and tear the springs endure.

Dangers of Ignoring a Worn or Broken Garage Door Spring

It’s important to know when to replace garage door springs to prevent further problems. Here are some of the dangers of ignoring a worn or broken garage door spring.

Serious injury: Your garage door springs store a lot of energy under tension, and when they break, the door will fall suddenly and with a lot of force.
Severe damage: A broken or malfunctioning spring can cause the garage door to slam shut or become unbalanced, which may damage the door, the garage, your driveway, or items that are stored inside.
Frustrating operation: Broken garage door springs make it extremely difficult to open and close the door, either manually or with the garage door opener.
Safety threats: A malfunctioning or unbalanced garage door is a serious safety hazard that can become extremely dangerous if it falls.
Costly repairs: If you ignore a worn or broken garage door spring, it can lead to much more complex damage later, costing you even more money in repairs.
Security risk: When your garage door is difficult to open or close, it poses a risk to your home’s security and may encourage break-ins.

DIY vs. Professional Garage Door Spring Replacement

You may wonder whether you can replace your garage door springs yourself. While it’s certainly possible, torsion springs use high tension, which poses a risk of serious injury. These springs store a lot of energy, which makes DIY replacement particularly dangerous. The experts at Mesa Garage Doors have the appropriate tools, skills, knowledge, and professional experience to replace your garage door springs efficiently and safely. We’ll accurately diagnose the issue and determine the right type of spring you need, then perform a thorough test to ensure everything is operating smoothly.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors Today

If you’re experiencing issues with your garage door and believe you may need a garage door spring replacement, the team at Mesa Garage Doors is here to help. We proudly serve customers in Anaheim and throughout the Southern California area. To schedule professional service for your garage door, contact us today!