Signs of a broken spring
- A loud bang from the garage
- A gap in the spring above the door
- The door feels very heavy
- The opener runs but the door will not lift
- The door rises a few inches, then stops
- The door hangs crooked or closes too fast
Spring Repair
Broken Garage Door Spring Repair
Garage door springs do the heavy lifting. They balance the weight of the door, so the opener, or your arms, only has to guide it. A garage door can weigh well over 100 pounds. When a spring breaks, the door suddenly feels that heavy, and the opener may not be able to lift it at all.
North Texas Garage Doors and Gates repairs and replaces broken garage door springs for homes and businesses across Dallas–Fort Worth. We offer 24/7 emergency service and free estimates. If your door is stuck, call (682) 459-1700.
Signs Your Spring Is Broken or Wearing Out
A broken spring is one of the most common reasons a garage door stops working. Here is what each sign usually means:
- A loud bang from the garage. A torsion spring that snaps often sounds like a firecracker. Many break while the door is closed and not moving, because that is when the spring holds the most tension.
- A gap in the spring. Look at the metal bar above the door. A broken torsion spring shows a gap of a few inches between its coils. Extension springs, which run along the side tracks, may hang loose or look stretched out.
- A very heavy door. A balanced door is easy to lift by hand. If it feels like dead weight, the springs are no longer carrying it.
- The opener strains or stops. Openers are built to guide a balanced door, not to lift its full weight. When a spring breaks, the opener may hum, lift the door a few inches and stop, or reverse.
- A crooked door. If one side sits higher than the other, a side spring or a cable may have failed. Stop using the door until it is checked.
Springs also wear out before they break. Rust, a door that won’t stay put when it’s halfway open, or a door that feels heavier than it used to are all signs that the springs are losing tension.
What Happens During a Spring Repair
Most garage doors use one of two kinds of springs. Torsion springs sit on a metal bar above the door and twist to store energy as the door closes. Extension springs run along the tracks on each side and stretch as the door closes. A broken spring isn’t patched. It’s replaced with a new spring that matches your door.
Here is what our technician does on a spring repair visit:
- Inspect the door. We find the broken spring and check the cables, rollers, bearings, and bottom brackets that work with it. A spring that snaps can also loosen a cable or knock a roller out of the track.
- Size the new spring. We work out the right wire size, length, and width from the door’s height and weight. Old layers of paint can add up to 60 pounds, so we don’t guess.
- Replace and balance. We install the new spring and set the tension so the door is balanced.
- Test everything. We run the door by hand and with the opener, and we check the safety reverse.
On doors with two springs, both have usually worked the same number of cycles, so when one breaks, the other is often close behind. That is why we usually replace both springs at the same time. It keeps the door balanced and helps keep the second spring from failing soon after. Many standard springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles. One cycle is one opening and one closing, so a door that opens and closes four times a day uses about 1,460 cycles a year. We also offer high-cycle springs, which are built to last through more cycles. They are a good choice for a door that gets heavy use.
Stay Safe While You Wait for Help
Garage door springs hold a lot of stored energy, even when they look still. The cables and bottom brackets are tied to that same tension. If a spring, cable, or bracket slips while someone is working on it, it can cause serious injury. That’s why spring work isn’t a do-it-yourself job.
If your spring breaks:
- Leave the door closed if you can. Don’t force it open with the opener. Running the opener against a heavy door can damage it.
- Be careful with the manual release. If the door is open, don’t pull the red release cord. Without a working spring, the door can drop fast.
- Stay out from under the door. Keep children and pets away, and don’t park under a door that is stuck open.
- Don’t touch the hardware. Don’t loosen any bolts, cables, brackets, or the center bracket on the spring bar.
- Call for help. If your car is trapped or the door won’t close, call (682) 459-1700. We offer 24/7 emergency service.
Other Repairs and Areas We Serve
Springs often wear out along with other parts. When we fix a spring, we also look at the cables, rollers, and tracks, because a worn part there can cause the next breakdown. We also handle garage door opener repair and installation, cable and roller repair, and new garage door installation. See all of our garage door services.
We work on gates too. If your driveway gate is stuck or slow, we also repair gate openers, so one company can look after your garage and your gate.
When you call, it helps to know: whether the door is stuck open or closed, whether you heard a bang, and whether your springs sit on a bar above the door or run along the side tracks. A photo of the spring area helps too, if you can take one from a safe distance.
We repair garage door springs in Grapevine, Southlake, Keller, and Fort Worth, and in many more towns across North Texas. See the full list on our service areas page, or call (682) 459-1700.
Have Questions?
Garage Door Spring Questions
Can I still open my garage door with a broken spring?
It isn’t safe to try. Without a working spring, the door is very heavy and can fall. Running the opener can also strain or damage it. Leave the door closed if you can, and call (682) 459-1700 for 24/7 emergency service.
How long do garage door springs last?
It depends on the spring and how often the door is used. Many standard springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles, and one cycle is one opening and one closing. A busy door that opens many times a day wears its springs out sooner. For a door like that, ask us about high-cycle springs, which are built to last longer.
Do you fix springs on commercial garage doors?
Yes. We repair and replace garage door springs for homes and businesses.
What brands do you work on?
We service all major garage door brands.
How much does spring repair cost?
The cost depends on your door and the springs it needs. We offer free estimates, so you know the price before we start. Warranty coverage depends on the part and the manufacturer, so ask us what applies to your new spring.