Your garage door can’t function properly without springs. Understanding your garage door spring lifespan and maintenance needs is, therefore, vital for any homeowner. After all, they’re responsible for bearing the door’s weight and making it easy to open.

On that note, below are the factors that influence the longevity of your garage door springs and how long you can expect yours to last based on their usage.

Garage Door Spring Lifespan:
What Causes Garage Door Springs to Deteriorate?

The standard torsion spring, rated for 10,000 cycles, will last most homeowners around 13 or 14 years. Quite a few variables could increase or decrease that number, but many of them are things that you have direct control over.

The first factor that will affect the rate of wear on your springs is how often you use them. Using your garage door four times a day as opposed to twice could reduce its lifespan by half, for instance. You can usually extend that time by ensuring your door gets proper maintenance, such as by lubricating the springs.

The quality of your springs will also determine how long they last. High-quality springs can handle more cycles, so it’s often worth investing in better-quality options. Doing so prevents you from needing to replace them more often or pay for additional maintenance costs.

Lastly, there are environmental conditions, but these are a group of factors you, naturally, have the least control over. Nevertheless, they still influence how long your springs can do their job. If you live in a humid climate, for example, there’s a higher chance that your springs could deteriorate much faster.

Signs Your Garage Door Springs Are on the Way Out

Knowing what to look for when you believe your garage door springs are close to their breaking point can help prevent an unexpected failure.

Common signs your springs are getting older include the following:

  • Difficulty in lifting the door
  • Visible gaps or stretching in the springs
  • Unusual creaking, snapping, or other strange sounds

Though you can look for these on your own, handling your garage springs yourself is dangerous and thus never a good idea. It’s easier to determine the issue with professional garage door maintenance. A skilled technician can help identify the root of the problem and help you get it fixed as soon as possible.

Replace and Repair With D Bar Garage Doors

If you’re worried it could be time to say goodbye to your springs, reach out to D Bar Garage Doors today. We’ll ensure to install new ones properly and help you get the most out of the investment in your new springs!