How to know it’s the spring
The signature: a loud bang from the garage (often at night — temperature swings finish off tired springs), then a door that the opener strains at and lifts a few inches or not at all. Look at the shaft above the door: a healthy torsion spring is one continuous coil; a broken one has a clean two-inch gap. Other tells: the door feels absurdly heavy by hand, cables look loose or snaked off their drums, or the door slams down faster than it should. All spring talk. Stop using the opener — forcing it burns out gears and turns one repair into two.
Why pairs, and what cycles mean
Springs are rated in cycles — one open plus one close. Standard springs are 10,000-cycle parts: at four cycles a day (a normal commuting household), that’s 6–7 years; in homes where the garage is the front door, less. Two springs on the same door have identical mileage, so when one breaks, its twin is running on fumes — replacing only the broken one buys you a second service call within months. Pairs cost $200–$400 installed; the high-cycle upgrade (25,000+ cycles, $300–$500) is honest math for busy households: roughly 50% more money for 150% more life.
Why this is not a DIY job
A wound torsion spring stores enough energy to lift a 150-pound door — and releases it instantly into whatever’s in the way when handled wrong. Winding them takes proper bars (not screwdrivers — that’s how the ER stories start), correct wind counts, and knowing how to keep tension controlled throughout. It’s a 45-minute job for a tech who does it daily and a genuinely dangerous afternoon for anyone else. This one page of this site will always say: call somebody.
The teaser-price trap
"$99 spring special" ads work by quoting a bare part, then adding winding, cones, "heavy-duty" markups and a service fee until the invoice reads $600+. Real shops quote the honest all-in range up front — $200–$400 for standard pairs, installed — and stick to it unless the door reveals something extra (a bent shaft, dead bearings), which they show you before touching. If the phone quote sounds too good, the invoice won’t be.
Common questions
How fast can a spring be replaced?
Usually same or next day — trapped-car calls get priority in this trade. The repair itself takes under an hour once the tech arrives with the right springs.
Can I open the door manually with a broken spring?
Only with help and care: the door is full dead weight (150+ lbs on a double). Two strong adults can lift it to free a car — keep hands on the door sections, never under the door, and prop it securely or hold it the whole time. Better: wait for the tech if you can.
Extension springs vs torsion springs?
Older Taylor homes sometimes have extension springs (stretched along the tracks) instead of torsion (coiled on the shaft above the door). Both get replaced in pairs; extension springs must have safety cables through them. Many extension setups are worth converting to torsion at replacement time — smoother and safer.
Why did it break at 6 years when the door isn’t old?
Cycles, not years. 10,000-cycle springs at typical use last 5–8 years regardless of the door’s age. Texas temperature swings add fatigue. It’s a wear part, like brake pads — high-cycle springs are how you buy a longer interval.
Broken spring? Get it fixed today.
Call (737) 201-9407 for fastest service, or leave details for a quick callback.
Got it — expect a call back shortly.