Can I replace my garage door spring myself?

We don't recommend it. Garage door springs are under very high tension, and mishandling one can cause serious injury. A licensed garage door professional has the tools and training to replace springs safely.

Do I need to replace both garage door springs at the same time?

Yes, it is strongly recommended. Torsion springs are typically installed in pairs and wear at similar rates, so if one has broken, the other is usually near the end of its life. Replacing both at once costs little more than replacing one and avoids a second service call within months.

Do you lubricate the torsion spring on a garage door?

Lubricating the springs and other moving parts is a routine part of garage door maintenance that helps them run quietly and smoothly. Our technicians can check the springs during a service visit and recommend whether lubrication or replacement is needed. Never attempt to lubricate or adjust a spring yourself, because it is under high tension.

How do I open the garage door if the spring is broken?

If your opener has an emergency release cord, you can pull it to disconnect the door from the opener so you can operate it manually. Lift slowly and never try to force a door with a broken spring, since it can drop unexpectedly. Have a licensed pro repair the spring before using the door normally.

What happens if the garage door spring is broken?

A door with a broken spring often feels much heavier, may open unevenly or not at all, and may not stay open on its own. Keep people and vehicles clear of the door and avoid forcing it. Call a licensed pro to inspect and replace the spring.

DIY vs Professional Garage Door Spring Replacement

A pro is the safer route.

The Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA) identifies garage door springs as among the most dangerous parts of the system. It notes they are under high tension, and it recommends that spring repairs and adjustments be done only by trained technicians.^[1] That guidance applies most strongly to torsion springs, the tube-mounted springs above the door.

Torsion spring above a residential garage door — A torsion spring mounted above a residential garage door

Extension springs, the long ones along the side tracks, carry risk too. DASMA recommends a safety cable through each one because a broken spring can cause injury.^[1]

If your system lacks those cables, fix that before anyone touches the springs.

Risk and Tools for Each Route

A DIY swap takes more than a spring and a wrench. You need winding bars that fit the winding cone, a spring that matches your door, and a reliable way to secure the door so it cannot move while the counterbalance is released.

Screwdrivers and other improvised tools are not substitutes.

Route	What you need	Main risk
DIY	Fitting winding bars, a matched spring, a way to secure the door	Wrong spring, torque, or turns
Professional	Technician with sized parts and experience	Unclear warranty terms unless written down

Where mistakes happen

Matching the spring is harder than it looks. DASMA warns that incorrect spring identification, torque, or number of turns can create a safety issue, cause the door to drift downward, and add force to other counterbalance components.^[2] Color codes help, but confirm them with physical measurements and the door's weight, especially on older doors.^[3]

DASMA's residential counterbalance standard also treats torsion brackets, winding cones, pulleys, and other tensioned parts as needing warnings plus special knowledge, skills, or tools for removal.^[4]

A generic video rarely covers the variations in your hardware.

What a pro brings

A technician arrives with the right bars, sized parts, and experience reading cables, drums, and brackets for wear. A good one also checks door balance after the swap, because a new spring on a worn system can still leave the door heavy or unbalanced.

Some companies back the work with a warranty. Ask for the terms in writing, including what the warranty covers and for how long.

Cost and When to Call a Pro

The spring itself is only part of the pro's bill. Labor, service or trip fees, cable inspection, and after-hours rates all shape the total, and they vary from company to company. Our guide to what drives spring replacement cost in Phoenix breaks those pieces down.

For DIY, price the springs and the correct winding bars, then compare that total with a written, itemized quote.

Weigh the savings against what a slipped bar or a miswound spring could cost you in injury, a damaged door, or a ruined opener.

Vetting a Phoenix pro

Confirm the contractor's license on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors lookup at roc.az.gov. Then ask directly for proof of workers' compensation and general liability coverage. Arizona does not require contractors to carry workers' comp, and the ROC bond is modest, so verify insurance yourself rather than assuming it.

Checklist

Before you hire

0 of 5 ticked

Confirm the license at roc.az.gov
Ask for proof of workers' compensation
Ask for proof of general liability coverage
Get two itemized quotes
Get warranty terms in writing

Tick them off as you go. Nothing is saved or sent.

Get at least two itemized quotes covering parts, labor, fees, and warranty.

If you are unsure of your spring type, door weight, or safe blocking method, that uncertainty is your answer. See our garage door spring repair and replacement service page to line up a licensed technician.

DIY vs Professional Garage Door Spring Replacement