Photo by Daniel von AppenOriginally Posted On: https://spectrumoverheaddoor.com/diy-versus-professional-garage-door-spring-repair/
Garage door springs, also known as torsion springs, are an integral part of how the garage door system works. When it breaks or wears out it can be a real issue. Your garage door will either not lift or will close improperly. In times like these there is a choice to make, call a professional or do it yourself. So, we are going to look at DIY versus professional garage door spring repair.
A quick note before we get started. Typically, in most DIY vs. professional comparisons made by garage door companies, they are going to gently nudge you into calling a professional. The reason is obvious. They are a professional garage door company and they need business. We here at Spectrum Overhead Door LLC are different. We have a sister company, Parts 4 Garage Doors, who can outfit DIYers with pretty much all the garage door supplies they need to get the job done. With that said, we can give you a fair and honest opinion about doing garage door spring repair yourself or calling a professional to get it done for you.
First, let’s go into how garage door springs work. The springs essentially hold the weight of the garage door. The garage door springs operate usually by being mounted horizontally above the door opening and the door comes down, cables that are attached to the bottom corners of the door cause the springs to wind up creating stored energy. When the door is opened, the springs unwind, and the energy helps lift the garage door.
DIY versus Professional garage door spring repair, which is better?To do this comparison, we are going to go at it by way of answering typical questions and breaking down each perspective.
Q. Is repairing or replacing a garage door spring difficult?
A. Replacing a garage door spring is not that difficult if you are used to doing DIY home repair projects. The key is following directions and proceeding with safety in mind.
Q. Is replacing a garage door spring dangerous?
A. Yes, if you are not careful. There is a lot of torque wound up in garage door springs. If one snaps it can cause damage and bodily injury. That being said, if you follow proper safety protocols and procedures the danger of doing it yourself can be mitigated.
Q. Is replacing a garage door spring time-consuming?
A. Replacing a garage door spring should take you only a couple of hours, for example, in an afternoon. So, this really depends on the amount of free time you have and how urgent the situation is. If you need the spring fixed right away and have plans, such as meetings or kids’ soccer practice, it might be more beneficial to call a professional.
Q. Is it more expensive to call a professional to change my garage door spring?
A. This is both a yes and no. It really depends. Initially, it usually is a lot more expensive to call a professional. The reason we say it is also no is twofold. First, it depends on how good you are at DIY projects. If you don’t regularly do DIY projects or don’t really have that “handy person” talent, it could cost you more due to fixing mistakes. This leads to the second part, parts, and labor warranty. In most cases, you get a two-parts labor warranty. So, if something does go wrong on install, it’s covered at no extra charge. The same goes for months down the line. If you have done the replacement yourself, only to have something go wrong, like the spring goes loose, you have to take the time to fix it yourself. With a labor warranty, the garage door company fixes it for you saving you time and money in the long run.
Which one is better? It depends. If you are comfortable with doing DIY home repair and have the time, we see no reason to tell you not to do your own spring repairs. But if you are not comfortable, or don’t have the extra time, or want the peace of mind of parts and labor warranty, then you may want to call a professional. There really is no cut and dry answer whether it’s better to call a professional to replace your garage door springs or replace the springs yourself. If you plan on doing the replacement DIY style, we suggest reading How to replace garage door torsion springs by our sister company, Parts 4 Garage Doors.
Spectrum Overhead Door LLC has been replacing garage door springs in the Houston area since 2006. We have award-winning service and can usually be there on the same day! Call our main office: 281-748-9542 or East Houston 713-557-3407 to schedule an appointment today!
