Broken garage door spring replacement cost

How much does a broken garage door spring cost to replace?

A professional spring replacement costs $150 to $350 on average, according to Bob Vila. Ask the seller to have a garage door company replace it before closing, or for a credit sized to that company's written bid.

Key takeaways

• On a two-spring door, ask for both springs.
• Homewyse prices $319 to $562 per spring; a Toledo, Ohio company quotes $200 to $400 for both.
• Have the technician test the opener's auto-reverse on the same visit.

Is a broken garage door spring dangerous?

Yes. The springs carry the door's weight, so a broken one leaves the door very heavy or unable to open. The federal garage door opener standard tells owners to use the emergency release only when the door is closed if possible, and to use caution with the door open. It gives the reason: "Weak or broken springs may allow the door to fall rapidly, causing injury or death." The same list says never to go under a stopped, partly open door.

Until the spring is replaced, don't run the door or the opener, and don't pull the emergency release with the door up. One repair company warns that forcing it can burn out the opener, bend the tracks, or let the door slam shut. Lifting it by hand is "possible, but not recommended," the same company says, because the door "can be unsafe to lift."

Can you fix a broken garage door spring yourself?

No. Leave it to a garage door company. The federal opener standard's manual text says to "have a qualified service person make repairs to cables, spring assemblies and other hardware." Don't touch the seller's door before closing anyway. A spring holds enough wound-up energy to balance the whole door. The wrong tools or technique can release it all at once. A garage door company's director of systems told Bob Vila this "has resulted in cuts, broken bones, head injuries, and even death."

Both common spring types carry that risk. Torsion springs are mounted above the door. Extension springs run along the sides. Knowing which one your door has is useful for the bid, and that is as far as a buyer should go.

Why do garage door spring prices vary so much?

The figures differ mostly on scope: one spring or two, and what the price includes. Bob Vila ties its range to the size and type of spring, the number of springs, and local labor rates.

Kept prices every line of an inspection report for $79, usually under 4 hours, and marks the ones that need a professional quote.

Here is how far apart that gets on one job. Say your report flags one broken torsion spring on a two-spring door, and you ask for both. At Homewyse's national per-spring figure, two springs cost $638 to $1,124 (2 × $319 and 2 × $562). The Toledo company quotes $200 to $400 for a two-spring system. A local technician's written bid for your door is the only figure that settles it.

Who do I call, and can I get a figure before my deadline?

Call a garage door company for a written bid before your deadline. If the report doesn't say which spring broke, that visit answers it. Ask the technician to name the spring type and size. One repair company says both springs are often replaced even if only one breaks, because they usually wear out at the same rate.

Ask for a bid that lists:

• The spring type and how many springs it replaces.
• The cycle rating, since the national guide's price assumes 10,000 cycles.
• The parts warranty.
• Parts and labor on separate lines. At the Toledo company, labor runs $75 to $150 of the bill.

Book early in your window. The Toledo company says same-day or after-hours calls add $50 to $150. How to get repair estimates during the inspection period covers lining up bids fast.

While the technician is there, have them run the reversal test from the federal standard. The standard's manual instruction reads: "The garage door MUST reverse on contact with a 1 1/2 inch object (or a 2 by 4 board laid flat) on the floor."

If the door fails that test, the opener goes on your list too.

What should you ask the seller for?

Ask the seller for the job the bid describes: the named springs, replaced by a garage door company. If the seller would rather not manage it, ask for a credit sized to the same bid.

If the seller does the work, ask for the invoice and the parts warranty before closing. At the final walkthrough, run the door and repeat the 2 by 4 test.

What to ask for after a home inspection shows how this line fits with the rest of your list. The buyer repair request letter template has the wording around it.

What if the seller says no?

If the seller says no, you have three choices:

• Take a credit or price cut instead.
• Accept the house as it is and book the technician after closing.
• Cancel inside your inspection window, if your contract allows it. Your contract sets the dates and terms, so confirm with your agent or attorney.

Weigh the bid against the rest of your report. When to walk away after a home inspection covers how.

How long does a garage door spring replacement take?

A garage door spring replacement often takes 1 to 2 hours, according to one repair company, depending on the setup and the door's condition. Ask for the company's first open date on the same written bid.

How do I know what the rest of my report will cost?

Price each line the same way: a scope, a trade and a figure. For the other garage and outside items a report can list, see exterior findings on an inspection report.

If the spring is one line on a longer report, upload your inspection report to Kept and let the memo price most of the rest, so your remaining days go to the bids only a technician can give.

Sources

• Bob Vila, "Can You Replace Garage Door Springs Yourself?"
• Homewyse, "Cost to Update Garage Door Spring"
• Quality Overhead Door, "Garage Door Spring Repair Cost"
• Fast Fix Garage Door, "Garage Door Spring Broken? Here's What to Do Immediately"
• 16 CFR 1211.16, Consumer Product Safety Commission garage door opener standard, instruction manual