A garage door spring usually breaks with a sound like a gunshot in the garage, and then the opener can't lift the door, or lifts it a few inches and stops. The spring was doing most of the lifting, and without it the door can weigh well over a hundred pounds. That's a general industry figure; the real weight depends on the door.
Torsion or extension?
Torsion springs sit on a bar above the door opening. A broken one often shows a visible gap in the coil. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side and stretch as the door closes. They should have a safety cable running through them. If yours don't, ask about adding one.
Why this is a pro job
Winding a torsion spring means applying large stored force with winding bars. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission tracks garage-door injuries, and door makers warn against DIY spring work. Leave the door down, unplug the opener if it keeps trying, and call.
Questions to ask the provider
- Will you replace both springs, or only the broken one? (On two-spring doors, many techs recommend both.)
- What cycle rating are the replacement springs?
- Are the cables, drums and bearings included in the inspection?
- What is the total price, including the service call, before you start?
How a spring repair visit usually goes
The technician first confirms which spring failed and checks the other one. They measure the old spring (wire size, inside diameter, length) or read its tag so the replacement matches the door's weight. Then they unwind any remaining tension safely, remove the old spring, install the new one, wind it to the right number of turns, and test the balance. A careful tech also looks at the cables, because a spring break can jolt them, and at the center bearing and end bearings.
Signs a spring is getting close
- The door gets noticeably heavier when you lift it by hand.
- The opener strains or slows on the way up.
- Visible gaps or stretched coils on an extension spring.
- The door won't stay put when you stop it halfway by hand (with the opener released).
Common mistakes to avoid
Running the opener anyway. Openers aren't designed to lift an unbalanced door. You can strip the gear, bend the door's top section, or pull the opener bracket out of the ceiling.
Pulling the red release cord with a broken spring. With no spring support, the door can drop fast once released. Only release it if the door is fully closed, or with someone ready to hold it.
Ordering springs online "to save time". Spring sizing depends on the door's weight and height. The wrong spring can leave the door unbalanced or unsafe.
Extension spring doors
Older and lighter doors often use extension springs along each side. If yours do, make sure a safety cable runs through the middle of each spring. Without it, a broken extension spring can whip across the garage. Retrofitting safety cables is a reasonable thing to ask about during any visit.
More questions
If you aren't sure whether you have torsion or extension springs, take a photo of the top of the door and the side tracks before you call. It speeds up the conversation and helps the provider bring the right parts.
What "balanced" means, and why it matters after a spring job
A properly sprung door is close to weightless in the middle of its travel. With the opener disconnected, you should be able to lift it with one hand, and it should stay roughly where you let go around waist height. If it drifts down, the springs are under-wound or too weak for the door. If it drifts up, they're over-wound. Either way the opener works harder and wears faster. A careful technician shows you this test before leaving. It takes thirty seconds and tells you more about the job than any sales pitch.
Spring conversions
Some older Joliet-area doors still run on extension springs. During a repair, a provider may offer to convert to a torsion system. Torsion setups are generally smoother and keep the stored energy contained on a bar, but a conversion costs more than a like-for-like replacement and isn't required. Ask for both prices and decide based on how long you plan to keep the door.
After the repair
- Run the door through a few cycles and listen for scraping or popping.
- Check that both cables sit snugly in their drums.
- Keep the invoice. The spring size and cycle rating on it make the next replacement easier.
Common questions
Why did my spring break when it was cold?
Springs fatigue over thousands of cycles, and cold makes the metal and the lubrication work harder. A worn spring often lets go on a cold morning. This is general trade experience, not a Joliet-specific statistic.
Can I just use the opener to lift it?
No. The opener isn't built to lift the full weight of the door, and you can damage it or have the door drop.
How long do garage door springs last?
It depends on the spring's cycle rating and how often the door is used. Many standard springs are rated in the low tens of thousands of cycles, per manufacturer literature. Ask your provider what rating they install.