Should I replace both garage door springs if only one broke?

Yes, you should replace both garage door springs even if only one has broken. While it may seem cost-effective to replace just the broken spring, this approach often leads to additional problems and expenses within a short time frame.

Garage door springs are installed as a matched pair and operate under identical conditions from day one. They experience the same number of cycles, bear the same weight load, and endure the same environmental factors. When one spring breaks, the other has undergone the exact same wear and is near the end of its lifespan.

If you replace only the broken spring, the older spring will likely fail within weeks or months. This means you will pay for Best Garage Door Repair & Services calls, labor, and spring replacement twice instead of once. The cost difference between replacing one spring versus two is minimal compared to the expense of a second emergency repair visit.

Operating your garage door with one new spring and one worn spring creates significant operational issues. The new spring has full tension while the old spring has weakened considerably, causing the door to become unbalanced. An unbalanced door puts excessive strain on your garage door opener motor, which can lead to premature opener failure.

The imbalance also causes uneven wear on other components like cables, rollers, and tracks. Your door may hang crooked, bind during operation, or close too quickly on one side. These problems create safety hazards and accelerate wear throughout the entire door system.

Most garage door professionals strongly recommend replacing both springs as standard practice. Quality springs typically last 10,000 to 20,000 cycles, and replacing them as a set ensures optimal performance and safety. While the upfront cost is slightly higher, the long-term savings and peace of mind make replacing both springs the smarter choice as discussed in our Blog.