Author Topic: Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!  (Read 3134 times)

zolotiyeruki

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Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!
« on: May 27, 2014, 10:27:01 PM »
Last week, one of the (two) springs on our garage door broke.  For those who have never heard it, it sounds like a civil war era cannon.  Gave my wife quite a scare.  Today during my lunch break I drove out to a supplier, paid a whisker over $100 for a new pair of springs (when one goes, the other typically is not far off), and installed both in about an hour this evening.  They're the "EZ-Set" type that allow you to replace them without dealing with the danger from un-tensioning springs. (I've done the traditional kind too, and they're no big deal either)

I have no idea how much a garage door company would charge for replacing the springs, but I'm sure it's a whole lot more than the $0 I paid for my own labor.

Greg

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Re: Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2014, 10:09:47 AM »
Congrats.  In addition to the savings, you gained experience, confidence and competence.

Spork

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Re: Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2014, 10:36:56 AM »

I can tell you that about 15 years ago I paid about $600 for the replacement.  (There was some up-selling of "you'll also need...")

I've since done it myself and removed some of the mystery/stigma.  Good job.

dragoncar

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Re: Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!
« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2014, 10:56:27 AM »
Congrats.  In addition to the savings, you gained experience, confidence and competence.

+1 STR and +5% chance to fix broken armor.

Nords

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Re: Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2014, 12:16:09 PM »
They're the "EZ-Set" type that allow you to replace them without dealing with the danger from un-tensioning springs. (I've done the traditional kind too, and they're no big deal either)
I'm glad that old spring-replacement thrill is being replaced by better spring technology. 

JT

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Re: Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2014, 02:05:22 AM »
That's quite an achievement, well done!  Bet the sound made the neighbours jump along with your wife!

zolotiyeruki

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Re: Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!
« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2014, 10:48:16 AM »
That's quite an achievement, well done!  Bet the sound made the neighbours jump along with your wife!
No joke--the same thing happened several years ago at our previous house--*I* was the one home alone at the time, and it scared the snot out of me then, too!

Hedge_87

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Re: Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2014, 07:51:52 AM »
I lost a spring one morning. I headed out to screw around with a couple wood projects I had going on. Hit the up button and SNAP there it went. Watched a couple YouTube videos and replaced it in about an hour. Lost one at work that same week and they called the door company.  $1200 later that one was replaced lol. Granted this was a lot bigger door at our warehouse so not a direct comparison but damn would I be mad if I would have had to pay them half that much for my door.

5inatrailer

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Re: Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2014, 08:45:19 AM »
Kudos man, things always sound easy when someone else does them.  I tried re-tensioning mine but after 2 hrs (and I'm fairly handy) I was no better off than where I started.

So, called the local place and they sent someone out: a girl (which is no big deal) but I had to turn in my man card watching her fix it in 15 minutes. lol.
Some things are just better off left with the people who deal with that stuff every day.

I paid $200.  So you saved $300 before tax doing it yourself, a great ROI.

Dollarbill49

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Re: Replaced Garage Door Springs by myself!
« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2014, 01:21:23 PM »
I did the same many years ago when one of ours went.  The saving of $'s by fixing it myself was less meaningful to me than the fact that the spring and cable, when snapping, flew about an inch away from my face could have very easily killed me.  When it happened my first reaction of shock was due to the noise it made when it broke, then the second and bigger reaction of shock when I thought of what almost just happened.

And am quite proud that I have not had any issues with the doors since.