If you have a two-car garage door and suddenly hear a loud bang from the garage, there is a good chance one of your garage door springs has broken.
One of the first questions homeowners ask us at Overdoors of Illinois is:
If only one spring broke, do I really need to replace both?
In most cases, yes. If your garage door uses two torsion springs that were installed at the same time, replacing both springs is usually the best option.
There are several reasons why—and replacing both can help prevent another service call shortly after the first repair.
Why Does My Garage Door Have Two Springs?
Many double-wide, two-car garage doors use a two-spring torsion system. These springs are typically mounted on a shaft above the garage door and work together to counterbalance the weight of the door.
Garage doors are heavier than many homeowners realize. Depending on the size, construction, insulation, windows, and other options, a residential garage door can weigh hundreds of pounds.
The springs do most of the work of lifting that weight.
When properly sized and adjusted, the two springs share the load so that your garage door can be raised and lowered safely and your garage door opener doesn’t have to lift the entire weight of the door by itself.
Why Do We Usually Recommend Replacing Both Springs?
1. Both Springs Have Usually Completed the Same Number of Cycles
Garage door springs wear based primarily on cycles.
One cycle equals:
Door opens + door closes = one cycle
If both springs were installed at the same time, they have generally completed approximately the same number of cycles.
So if one spring has reached the end of its usable life and breaks, the second spring has usually experienced a similar amount of wear.
That doesn’t mean the second spring will break tomorrow. It could continue operating for some time. But its age and cycle history make another spring failure more likely than if the spring were new.
Replacing both essentially gives the spring system a fresh start.
2. It Helps Keep the Door Properly Balanced
Garage door springs aren’t simply selected because they physically fit above the door.
The correct springs are determined by factors such as the weight and configuration of the garage door. Proper spring sizing and tension are important for keeping the door balanced throughout its travel.
With a properly balanced door, you should be able to disconnect the garage door opener and manually operate the door without fighting its full weight.
Installing a new spring alongside an older, heavily cycled spring can sometimes create an uneven system.
Replacing both springs allows the technician to properly match and balance the spring system for the door.
3. It Can Prevent Another Service Call
Imagine replacing the broken spring today and having the older spring break a few weeks or months later.
Now you’re dealing with another:
- Garage door that may not open
- Service appointment
- Repair bill
- Disruption to your schedule
For homeowners with a two-spring system where both springs are the same age, replacing the pair during the initial repair can often be more economical than waiting for the second spring to fail and scheduling another service call.
Can You Replace Just the Broken Spring?
Yes, there are situations where replacing only one spring may make sense.
For example, if one spring was recently replaced and the other spring breaks, replacing a nearly new spring again may not be necessary.
That’s why we don’t believe every garage door repair should automatically receive the exact same recommendation.
At Overdoors of Illinois, our technicians inspect the entire garage door system and consider the age, condition, sizing, and configuration of the existing springs before making a recommendation.
Our goal is to explain your options so you can make an informed decision about your garage door.
What Happens When One of Two Garage Door Springs Breaks?
A common misconception is that because one spring is still intact, the garage door should continue operating normally.
That’s not necessarily the case.
The remaining spring was designed to carry its share of the door’s weight, not compensate indefinitely for the broken spring.
You may notice that the door:
- Feels extremely heavy
- Opens several inches and stops
- Opens unevenly
- Won’t open with the garage door opener
- Makes unusual noises
- Has a visible gap in one of the torsion springs
If you suspect a broken spring, don’t repeatedly press the garage door opener trying to force the door open.
Doing so can put unnecessary strain on the opener and other garage door components.
- Proper spring sizing
- Door weight
- Frequency of use
- Corrosion and environmental conditions
- Changes made to the garage door
- Overall condition of the garage door system
This is another reason it’s important to have the correct springs installed for your specific door rather than simply replacing a broken spring with whatever appears similar.
How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last?
Garage door spring life is better measured in cycles rather than years.
A household that opens and closes its garage door several times every day will accumulate cycles much faster than a homeowner who rarely uses the garage door.
Spring life can also be affected by factors including:
Should I Try to Replace Garage Door Springs Myself?
We strongly recommend leaving torsion spring replacement to a trained garage door technician.
Garage door springs operate under significant tension. Improperly releasing or applying that tension can cause serious injury or property damage.
Professional spring replacement also involves more than removing one spring and installing another. A technician should verify the door’s condition, determine the correct spring configuration, properly tension the springs, and confirm that the garage door is balanced and operating safely.
What Else Should Be Inspected When a Spring Breaks?
A broken spring is also a good opportunity to inspect the rest of the garage door system.
At Overdoors of Illinois, we believe in looking at the complete door system, not simply the component that failed.
Depending on the door, an inspection may include components such as:
- Lift cables
- Drums
- Rollers
- Hinges
- Bearings
- Tracks
- Bottom fixtures
- Spring system
- Garage door opener
- Safety equipment
- Overall door balance and operation
Finding a worn component before it fails can help prevent another unexpected garage door problem.
Do I Need a New Garage Door Because a Spring Broke?
Usually, no.
A broken spring is one of the most common garage door repairs and does not automatically mean the entire garage door needs to be replaced. If the door itself is still in good condition, installing properly sized replacement springs can typically restore normal operation.
However, if the technician finds additional problems—such as severe section damage, failing hardware, significant rust, or multiple worn components—it may be worth discussing whether continued repairs or replacement makes more financial sense.
The Bottom Line: Should You Replace Both Springs?
For a two-car garage door with two torsion springs of the same age, we generally recommend replacing both springs when one breaks.
The reasoning is simple:
Both springs have typically performed the same amount of work. If one has reached the end of its life, the other may not be far behind.
Replacing both gives you a matched spring system, allows the door to be properly balanced, and can reduce the likelihood of paying for another spring-related service call in the near future.
There are exceptions, however, which is why having the door inspected by an experienced garage door technician is important.
Garage Door Spring Repair in Frankfort & Chicagoland
If you have a broken garage door spring, don’t force the door open or continue running the garage door opener.
Overdoors of Illinois provides professional residential garage door repair throughout Frankfort and the surrounding Chicagoland area.
Our technicians can inspect your garage door, determine the proper spring configuration, explain your repair options, and get your door operating safely again.
Overdoors of Illinois
We Sell the Best and Service the Rest — Since 1954.
Call: 815-469-8188
Visit: overdoors-inc.com
