Phoenix, Arizona
Correcting an Improper Spring Installation & Motor Failure
Completed
August 6, 2026
Location
Phoenix
Project Type
Garage Door Spring Replacement
The Challenge
Undersized Springs, Overworked Opener
The homeowner's garage door opener had failed, and they called us to install a new one. But the opener wasn't the root problem — the door had been set up with two undersized springs, making it far too heavy and forcing the motor to do the lifting. That added strain wore the opener out; you could see metal shavings ground off the chain drive sitting right on top of the motor.
Our Solution
The Right-Size Springs
One of the most common mistakes we see is the wrong-size springs. This door had a .218 and a .225 × 1¾ × 29 spring — both undersized — so the opener had to do most of the lifting, which eventually caused it to fail. We weighed the door to find the correct size: a matched pair of .250 × 1¾ × 39 springs. Once we installed them, the door was properly balanced again, so the opener can do what it's designed to do — guide the door, not lift it.
The Result
Balanced Door, Protected Opener
With the correctly-sized springs installed, the door is properly balanced for the first time — light, smooth, and safe to operate. The new opener now only has to guide the door, which protects it from the same early failure and extends the life of the whole system.
- Door weighed and matched to the correct spring size
- New .250 × 1¾ × 39 torsion springs installed
- Door properly balanced — light and smooth again
- Opener protected from the strain that killed the last one
- Longer life for the entire door system
Project Videos
What We Completed
- Garage Door Weigh & Spring Sizing
- Correctly-Sized Torsion Spring Installation
- New Garage Door Opener Installation
- Door Balancing & Adjustment
- Full Safety & Operation Test
Project Details
- Service
- Torsion Spring Replacement
- Old Springs
- .218 & .225 × 1¾ × 29 (undersized)
- New Springs
- .250 × 1¾ × 39 (correct)
- Root Cause
- Wrong-size springs
Project Gallery
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The Right Spring Size Matters
A properly balanced garage door protects your opener, extends the life of the whole system, and keeps everything running safely. This Phoenix door came in on undersized springs that had already killed one opener — the right-size springs fixed the real problem.