Garage doors use one of two spring systems to counterbalance their weight, and the two look and behave differently enough that most homeowners can identify which one they have with a quick look — useful to know before any repair conversation, even though the work itself isn't a DIY job.
How to tell which type your door has
- Torsion spring: a single thick spring mounted horizontally on a metal bar directly above the closed door, centered over the opening
- Extension spring: a pair of long, thinner springs stretched above each of the two horizontal side tracks, running roughly parallel to the tracks
- Torsion setups are more common on newer and heavier doors; extension setups are more common on older or lighter residential doors
Torsion springs: pros and cons
Torsion springs wind and unwind on a bar, which gives smoother, more controlled movement and generally longer lifespan — often 15,000–20,000 cycles versus roughly 5,000–10,000 for extension springs. They're also considered safer in a failure since the tension is contained on the bar rather than along an open track. The tradeoff is a higher repair cost due to more specialized tools and labor.
Extension springs: pros and cons
Extension springs are simpler and generally cheaper to replace, which is part of why they're still common on older doors. The downside is that a failed extension spring can whip along the track if it isn't fitted with a safety cable, and they tend to wear out faster than torsion springs under the same use.
Why the replacement type has to match exactly
A spring has to be rated for your specific door's weight, height, and cycle life — swapping in a spring that's the wrong type or the wrong rating for the door can throw off the balance, strain the opener, or fail early. This is also a good moment to ask whether the door itself, not just the spring, is due for replacement — a door with worn springs, an aging opener, and a decade-plus of use often has more than one issue showing up at once. Our wizard gives you an exact installed price for a new Hörmann door in about two minutes, a useful number to weigh against any spring repair estimate.