There is no fixed number of years. A garage door spring wears a little every time the door goes up and down, so its life depends on how often you use the door. A door that serves as the family’s front entrance wears its springs out much sooner than one opened on weekends. Watch for the warning signs, not the calendar.
How often you use the door matters most
Every trip up and down is one cycle, and springs are built for a limited number of them. If your household comes and goes through the garage all day, the springs work hard. A door used mostly on weekends can run for many years on the same pair. If yours is a busy door, ask about longer-life springs at the next replacement.
What shortens spring life
- Cold snaps. A cold morning does not break a healthy spring, but it often finishes off a worn one, so tired springs tend to give out after the first freeze.
- Lack of lubrication increases friction and wear. A yearly tune up helps.
- An unbalanced door or a single spring on a heavy door wears faster.
Signs a spring is about to fail
Watch for a door that feels heavy by hand, jerks or runs uneven as it opens, an opener that strains, or a visible gap in the spring coil. A loud bang from the garage is the classic sign a torsion spring has just snapped. See our spring repair service if you notice these.
Think your spring is near the end in Damascus? Call (503) 487-8942.
If a spring is near the end of its life, here is what affects spring replacement cost in Oregon.
Frequently asked questions
How many years do garage door springs last?
It depends on how many times a day the door runs. Springs wear with every trip up and down, so a door used as the main entrance wears them out sooner than one used a few times a week. Watch for the warning signs: a gap in the coil, a door that feels heavy by hand, or an opener that strains.
Do springs last longer if I lubricate them?
Lubrication reduces friction and wear and helps springs reach their rated life, but it cannot make them last forever.
Should I replace both springs at once?
If your door has two springs, yes. They wear at the same rate, so replacing both avoids a second failure soon after.