How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last?

Most garage door springs last for years. They do not last forever. Every spring has a limit. When it reaches that limit it breaks.

What a cycle is

Spring makers rate a spring in cycles. One cycle is one trip up and one trip down. A common rating for a standard spring is 10,000 cycles. Some springs are rated much higher.

What 10,000 cycles looks like at home

The math is simple. A door used four times a day makes about 1,460 cycles a year. At that rate 10,000 cycles takes close to seven years. A door used twice a day lasts about fourteen years. A busy household with several drivers wears springs out faster.

What shortens spring life

• A door that is out of balance makes the spring work harder.
• Rust weakens the metal. Road salt and damp air speed it up.
• A spring that is too small for the door wears out early.
• Dry coils rub against each other.
• Heavy upgrades such as extra insulation or windows add weight the spring must lift.

What can help a spring last

Have the spring checked when the door starts to feel heavy or move unevenly. Keep the coils clean and lightly lubricated as the door maker advises. Choose a spring with a rating that matches how much you use the door.

Warning signs

• The door feels heavy when you lift it by the emergency release.
• The door moves unevenly or jerks.
• You see rust or a gap in the coils.
• The opener strains.

A broken spring often fails without warning. You hear a loud bang from the garage. Read what to do in our guide to garage door spring repair.

Replace springs before they fail

If your springs are old the next cycle may be the last one. A planned visit costs less in stress than an emergency call. Springs hold a lot of force. Leave the work to a trained technician.

Related guides: the signs of a door that is out of balance.