If your garage door suddenly won’t open or feels unusually heavy, your spring might be the culprit. Most homeowners in League City, Texas don’t think much about door springs—until they break.

Then it becomes urgent. One big question we get at Level Up Garage Door is: Should I have 1 spring or 2 springs on my garage door? This guide breaks it down for you in plain English, from safety and cost to performance.

Understanding Your Garage Door Spring Setup

Garage doors typically use either a torsion spring system or an extension spring system to lift the weight of the door. These are tightly wound metal springs that store and release energy to help your garage door opener do its job.

Types of Garage Doors and Their Spring Mechanics

The spring system depends on the type of garage door and its weight:

• Torsion spring systems sit above the door on a shaft and use torque to lift the door.
• Extension spring systems stretch and contract along the horizontal tracks on either side.
  

In both systems, the springs work to counterbalance the weight of the door. The pressure, force, and spring size needed depend heavily on your door’s weight and specification.

1 Spring vs 2 Springs: What’s the Difference?

Let’s break down the practical differences between having one spring vs two springs, especially for a torsion setup.

1 Spring (Single Spring System)

With a single standard torsion spring, your garage door relies solely on that one coil. If it fails, the entire lifting mechanism fails too.

Pros:

• Lower installation cost
• Fewer parts to maintain or replace

Cons:

• If the spring breaks, the door becomes inoperable
• More pressure and torque on one spring, reducing cycle life
• Serious injury risk if you try a DIY repair

2 Springs (Two-Spring System)

When using two torsion springs, the workload is distributed evenly across both sides of the door shaft.

Pros:

• If one spring breaks, the other can still lift the door (with caution)
• Extends the life of the springs
• Less stress on each spring and the garage door opener
• Better balance of the door and smoother operation
  

Cons:

• Slightly higher installation costs
• More parts involved when you need to replace them

Why Spring Count Matters for Garage Door Safety

Here in League City homes, many garage doors are heavy enough that a single spring is pushing its limits. The more weight a single standard torsion spring has to handle, the more strain it undergoes over time.

When a spring breaks suddenly, the full weight of the door can endanger people, pets, and vehicles underneath. Garage door experts recommend 2 springs for most residential setups, especially steel rolling door models.

How Spring Breaks Happen

Torsion and extension springs are rated for a number of cycles—usually around 10,000 to 20,000. One cycle equals the door opening and closing once.

If you open and close your garage door four times a day, that’s roughly 1,500 cycles a year. Over time, wear, metal fatigue, changes in temperature, and poor garage door maintenance can weaken the coil, causing failure.

Once that spring goes, your door may become unbalanced, or not close properly, leading to costly damage.

Extension Spring vs Torsion Spring Systems

Still not sure which system you have? Here’s a quick comparison of the two most common systems:

If your garage still uses an extension spring system and you’re thinking about upgrading, our garage door service can help you convert to a safer garage door torsion spring model. It’s worth the investment for improved safety and performance.

How to Know If You Need a New Spring Setup

You might be wondering if it’s time to replace your current spring setup or upgrade to 2 springs. Here’s what to watch for:

• Your garage door opens unevenly or suddenly slams shut
• You hear a loud bang and the door no longer opens – likely a broken spring
• There’s visible damage, like a gap in the coil
• The spring length or wire size doesn’t match the door specification
• The cable drums, bearing, or cone are showing wear
  

In many cases, switching from a 1 spring system to 2 springs provides better load distribution and safety.

Why 2 Torsion Springs Are Ideal for Heavier Garage Doors

Using 2 torsion springs offers better balance and longer cycle life. They share the lifting weight, meaning less stress and binding on each spring. If one breaks, the second spring often provides enough support to close your garage door safely.

Plus, with proper installation, two springs allow better control in maintenance and help you to measure wear more accurately over time.

That’s why many professional garage door companies recommend this setup for heavier or wide overhead doors.

Don’t DIY It – Stay Safe and Call the Pros

Garage door spring replacement may look straightforward on YouTube—but it’s not. Working with metal under extreme force and pressure, especially on the wrong side of the spring or when trying to loosen the cone, can cause serious injury.

We’ve seen homeowners injured trying to replace springs or adjust the cable without proper tools. Always call in trusted garage door experts in League City for this kind of repair.

For expert and reliable help, check out our professional garage door spring replacement and repair services.

Final Thoughts: Which Spring Setup Saves You More?

If you’re looking at the long-term life of the springs, safety, and garage door opener efficiency, 2 springs on your garage door almost always pay off.

While 1 spring might seem like the cheaper route, it could cost more in repairs, downtime, and potential damage from failures. Based on years of experience, our advice at Level Up Garage Door is clear: if you can choose, go with two springs for performance, safety, and peace of mind.

Do you suspect a broken spring or planning an upgrade? Reach out to our team. We’re here to help you make the right move for your home’s garage door springs and safety.