Can a Garage Door Operate With One Spring? (Solved!)

Can a Garage Door Operate With One Spring? While a garage door can open with only one spring, you risk damaging the door, the opener, and even possibly bending the rails due to relying on one spring to lift all of the door’s weight.

Can a Garage Door Operate With One Spring?

In most cases, it is acceptable to open and close your garage door once when you only have one spring so you can get your car out and get to work or where ever you need to be. However, repeated uses with only one spring will cause damage to your whole opening system and can even result in your opener falling off the ceiling.

Do garage doors need one or two springs?

Whether a garage door needs one or two springs depends on the size of the door and what type of springs the door uses. A single, lightweight garage door with torsion springs can be supported by only one spring, whereas a double-wide door with torsion springs will need two springs.

If you have a garage door that uses extension springs, you will always need two springs to support your door correctly. 

Do all garage doors have 2 springs?

Double-wide doors and garage doors with extension springs always have two springs, whereas single doors can function perfectly well with only one torsion spring. Using two springs can help your garage door open and close more smoothly, so in general, garage doors use two.

Can you open a garage door after the spring has broken?

You can open a garage door after a spring breaks, but most professionals advise that you don’t operate your door with a broken spring. Springs help distribute the weight of the door evenly and allow the opener to carry the door’s weight. 

How can I lift my garage door without a spring?

The best way to open your garage door without springs is to switch to manual mode. Try to avoid this method as it can be pretty dangerous, and if you need to open your door manually, try asking someone to help you, as garage doors tend to be very heavy.

How many turns on a garage door dual spring?

Generally, four quarter turns is a complete revolution. It would be best to tighten the spring a complete revolution for every foot of the door’s height. 

Does my garage door need a spring?

You should not be using a garage door opener if your garage door does not have springs. Springs balance the weight of the door and help the opener open and close the door smoothly. 

How do I choose a garage door torsion spring?

Here are some quick steps to determine which spring you need to get.

Step 1 – Wind direction

You’ll need to know which direction the spring is wind. There are both left-wound and right-wound springs, so make sure that you know which you are replacing.

Step 2 – Measure

You will need to measure about ten to twenty of the coils to get the size of the spring you’ll need, then compare that to a measurement chart to get the right size.

You’ll also need to measure the inside diameter and the overall length of the spring.

Step 3 – Find Color-code

Springs are color-coded, so you should be able to check if your measurements are correct by checking the colour strip on the spring and comparing it to the dimensions you measured. 

Why does my garage door have two springs?

One of the reasons your garage door has two springs is to distribute the door’s weight evenly so the opener can more easily open and close it. Another is as a safety feature since a second spring will

keep tension on the door should the first one break preventing injury and damage to the rails and door itself. 

Is it dangerous to replace the garage door spring?

Garage door springs carry a lot of weight and tension, so it can be hazardous when it breaks. There is an added danger when replacing a spring because the door’s weight isn’t being held up by both springs anymore, and it’s best to have help if you need to replace a spring yourself. 

How long should garage door springs last?

You can expect your springs to last about 14 years after they are installed, or somewhere around 10,000 cycles of opening and closing. This lifespan will also depend on how well you care for your garage door and whether your springs are the right ones for your garage door. 

Which is better: torsion or extension springs?

Torsion springs are better since they are more robust and last longer than extension springs, lasting up to 20,000 opening and closing cycles. They’re also better at balancing the garage door, so opening and closing are smoother than extension springs. 

What is the cost to repair a garage door spring?

On average, replacing a spring costs about $250 for both materials and labour. It can cost about $350 to replace both springs. If you want to replace the spring yourself, then on average, just a garage door spring will cost anywhere between $30 to $100. 

How do I change the spring myself safely?

Here are some simple steps to guide you through replacing your spring yourself.

Step 1 – Lock the door

Use a clamp with locking pliers and clamp it to the track above the rollers of your garage door so it can’t move while you’re working. 

Step 2 – Loosen good spring

You’ll want to loosen the unbroken spring with a winding bar. Make sure to hold the bar in place while you loosen the screws. Be careful of the powerful torque when the screws release. 

Step 3 – Disconnect the spring

Remove the bolts holding the spring to the centre bracket, then slide it towards the end brackets. 

Step 4 – Secure torsion

Use a pair of pliers to hold the torsion tube to the bracket and disconnect the lift cables by loosening the screws on the lift cable drums.

Step 5 – Remove the broken spring

Slide the torsion tube to the right and remove the cable drum. You can then remove the broken spring.