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FAQ
Plain answers about the springs on your home's garage door.
Safety first: garage door springs hold a lot of stored energy. Torsion springs in particular can cause serious injury if they are wound or unwound without the right tools and know-how. If you are not confident doing the job safely, have a qualified installer fit the parts you pick up.
It counterbalances the weight of the door so it can be lifted easily by hand or by an opener.
Torsion springs, mounted on a shaft above the door, and extension springs, mounted along the horizontal tracks.
You may see a gap in the coils, hear a loud bang, and find the door very heavy or the opener unable to lift it.
It is best not to. The door can be very heavy and may drop, and running the opener against it can damage the opener.
Many two-car doors use two springs to share the load. Replacing both at once keeps the door balanced.
Your spring type, how many springs the door uses, and the door's size. Springs store a lot of energy, so use proper tools or a qualified installer.
Yes. A safety cable through each extension spring helps contain the spring if it breaks.
Yes. Garage Door Help Station kiosks are pickup points for residential springs, openers and cables. Locations are coming soon.
Also see: Openers FAQ · Springs