One spring just broke, and the natural instinct is to replace only the broken one to save a few dollars. It feels like the frugal choice — but on a two-spring door it usually costs you more in the end. Here is the honest reasoning, so you can decide with eyes open.
First: how many springs do you have?
Most double doors and many single doors use two torsion springs on the bar above the door. Lighter doors may have just one. If you only have one spring, this whole question is moot — you replace the one you have. The “replace both” advice is specifically for two-spring doors. (Not sure what you are looking at? See torsion vs. extension springs.)
Why replace both when only one broke
- Same age, same wear. Both springs were installed together and have gone through the same ~10,000 cycles. If one reached the end of its life, the other is right behind it — often failing within weeks or months.
- One trip beats two. Replacing both now means a single visit and trip charge. Wait for the second to break and you pay for another call-out soon after.
- A balanced, even door. A brand-new spring paired with a worn-out one pulls unevenly. That imbalance strains the opener, cables, and rollers and can shorten their lives too.
- No surprise breakdown. The whole point is to not get stranded again in a month when the second one lets go — usually on the coldest morning.
The honest exception
If your springs are genuinely newer — say one failed early from rust or a defect just a year or two in — matching a single replacement can make sense. A trustworthy tech will tell you when that is the case rather than automatically upselling. We would rather keep your business for years than nickel-and-dime one visit.
Do not DIY this to save on labor
Some folks are tempted to buy springs online and swap both themselves. Please do not — garage door springs hold enormous tension and cause serious injuries every year. Here is exactly why spring replacement is so dangerous. The labor to do both together is minor compared to the risk.
The bottom line
Two-spring door, one broke → replace both. Single-spring door → replace the one. Either way, we replace springs safely across DFW, usually same day, size them to your door's weight, and can upgrade you to longer-lasting high-cycle springs. Understanding what makes springs break helps you get the most from the new set.
Key takeaways
- On a two-spring door, replace both — they share the same age and wear.
- The unbroken spring usually fails within months, often on a cold morning.
- Replacing both at once means one trip charge and a balanced door.
- A new spring paired with a worn one pulls unevenly and strains the opener.
- Single-spring doors only need the one; never DIY the swap to save on labor.