Published 2026-05-04 · Houston Garage Door Pros
How Garage Door Spring Replacement Actually Works (Step by Step)
Quick answer: A pro spring replacement means weighing the door, releasing the old spring's tension with steel winding bars, sizing the new spring to the exact door weight and cycle expectation, winding it to the correct turn count, then balancing the door and testing the opener. The stored energy in a wound torsion spring is why this is a trained-tech job, not a DIY weekend project.
Step 1: weigh and size
The tech weighs the door with a hand scale, because the spring must match the door's exact weight. A 16-foot insulated door is 220 to 320 pounds; an 18-foot triple is closer to 340. Guessing here is how doors crash and openers burn out. The right spring is specified by wire diameter, inside diameter, and length.
Step 2: release tension safely
Two properly sized steel winding bars go into the cone at the end of the spring. The tech unwinds the old spring under controlled tension a quarter turn at a time. This is the dangerous step: a slipped bar becomes a steel lever flying at the tech's face. Proper bars are forged and sized to the cone, never a screwdriver or piece of rebar.
Step 3: install, wind, balance
The new spring slides onto the torsion tube and gets wound to the calculated turn count for the door's height. The cables get checked and re-seated on the drums. Then the tech balances the door at the halfway point: a balanced door stays put when you stop it midway. Finally the opener force settings get checked against the new tension and the door runs three full cycles.
Start to finish, a single spring runs 60 to 90 minutes; a matched pair runs closer to two hours.
Frequently asked
Why can't I replace a torsion spring myself?
A wound torsion spring stores 6 to 9 turns of tension that does not release when it breaks. Releasing it requires sized winding bars and technique; a slip can break a wrist or fracture a skull. The labor savings are not worth the injury risk.
How does the tech know which spring to use?
By weighing the door and reading the old spring's wire diameter, inside diameter, and length. The new spring is sized to that exact weight and the cycle life you choose.
What is door balance and why does it matter?
A balanced door stays put when stopped at the halfway point. Proper balance means the opener assists rather than deadlifts, which extends opener life and keeps the door safe.
Do you replace cables at the same time?
We inspect them and replace if worn or corroded, which is common on Bay-coastal Houston homes. A snapping spring can also damage a cable, so we always check.
How long does it take?
A single spring is 60 to 90 minutes; a matched pair about two hours. We carry common sizes so most jobs finish in one visit.