Can You Replace Just One Spring on a Garage Door?

Many homeowners wonder whether it’s possible to replace just one spring on a garage door instead of changing both. While it may seem like a cost-saving solution, replacing only one spring is usually not recommended and can lead to imbalance and safety risks.

How Garage Door Springs Work Together

Most garage doors are designed with two springs working as a balanced system. These springs share the door’s weight and ensure smooth, controlled movement.

When one spring breaks, the other is often:

• Already worn from the same usage cycle

• Near the end of its service life

• Forced to carry uneven tension

Replacing only one spring disrupts this balance.

What Happens If You Replace Only One Spring?

Installing a new spring next to an old one can cause:

• Uneven door lifting

• Increased strain on the opener

• Faster wear of the remaining old spring

• Sudden failure shortly after repair

In many cases, this leads to repeat repairs and higher overall costs.

Is It Ever Okay to Replace Just One Spring?

There are limited situations where replacing only one spring may be acceptable:

• The door uses a single spring design

• The second spring is very new and lightly used

• A professional technician confirms proper matching of tension and cycle life

Even in these cases, accurate measurement and installation are critical.

Why Professionals Recommend Replacing Both Springs

Most technicians recommend replacing both springs because:

• Springs wear out at the same rate

• Balanced tension improves safety

• The door operates more smoothly

• Long-term maintenance costs are lower

Replacing both springs at once helps prevent unexpected downtime and repeat failures.