Signs your spring has broken
Springs rarely fail quietly. Watch for:
- A loud bang from the garage, sometimes mistaken for something falling.
- The door won’t lift, or the opener runs and strains while the door rises a few inches and stops.
- A visible gap in one of the coils above the door (torsion systems).
- A door that’s suddenly very heavy if you’ve already disconnected the opener.
- Crooked travel, with one side rising ahead of the other.
- Loose or slack cables next to the door tracks.
Torsion vs. extension springs
| Feature | Torsion springs | Extension springs |
|---|---|---|
| Where | On a steel tube directly above the door | Alongside the horizontal tracks, near the ceiling |
| How they work | Twist (wind) to store energy | Stretch to store energy |
| What you’ll see when one breaks | A gap in the coil above the door | A spring hanging loose or a snapped coil beside the track |
| Safety note | Contained by the tube they’re mounted on | Must have a containment cable running through the spring |
To see which you have, look at the wall directly above the closed door: springs on a tube there are torsion springs; springs running along the ceiling tracks are extension springs. Spring manufacturer Clopay notes torsion systems generally last longer, while extension systems cost less and can snap back with significant force when they break, which is why the containment cable matters.
The spring system and the parts connected to it: springs (1), cable drums and lift cables (2) and bottom brackets (3) are all under tension.
- Torsion springs. Wound springs on a steel tube above the door. They counterbalance the door’s weight and are under high tension.
- Cable drums and lift cables. Drums at each end of the tube wind the cables that lift the door. The cables are under the same tension.
- Bottom brackets. Where the lift cables attach to the bottom of the door. They are under tension — not a DIY adjustment point.
- Rollers and tracks. Rollers on each section ride in the vertical and horizontal tracks.
- Opener and rail. The motor unit moves a trolley along the rail; the door arm connects it to the top section.
- Emergency release. A red handle that disconnects the door from the opener so it can be moved by hand.
- Safety sensors (photo eyes). Mounted low on each track. If the invisible beam is blocked while closing, the opener must reverse.
- Wall control. The push button inside the garage. Many have a lock or vacation mode that disables remotes.
Why spring repair isn’t a DIY job
A torsion spring is wound tight enough to lift a door that’s very heavy to lift by hand. Unwinding and rewinding it takes winding bars, the right spring sizes and experience. Done wrong, a spring or winding cone can release suddenly. The door industry’s safety guidance (DASMA) is direct: springs and spring hardware are under high tension; don’t remove, repair or adjust springs, cables or the hardware attached to them. Opener maker Genie gives the same advice.
What a proper spring replacement includes
A replacement isn’t just “swap the spring.” A careful technician will usually:
- Size the springs to your door. Springs are matched to the door’s weight and height by wire size, length and inside diameter. The wrong springs leave the door out of balance and wear out the opener. An 8-foot-tall door needs springs and cables sized for that height, not the ones for a standard 7-foot door, so ask the technician to confirm they’ve measured your door.
- Replace both springs on a two-spring door, as spring manufacturers recommend.
- Inspect the cables, drums, bearings and rollers. Frayed cables are commonly replaced in the same visit because the springs are already unwound.
- Balance-test the door with the opener disconnected: it should stay roughly in place when lifted halfway.
- Re-test the opener’s safety reversal and the safety sensors before handing it back to you.
Standard vs. higher-cycle springs
Clopay says most garage door springs are designed for about 10,000 cycles, and one cycle is the door going up and back down. Some companies offer springs with a higher cycle rating for an added cost. If you use your garage as the main entrance, ask for the rated cycle life of the springs being quoted, in writing, and compare like with like.
To put cycles in perspective (simple arithmetic, not a forecast for your door): at four cycles a day, 10,000 cycles takes a little under seven years; at two a day, about 13–14 years.
Spring replacement costs
| Job | Fixr (2025)[1] | This Old House (2026)[2] | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torsion springs, both replaced (parts and labor) | $200–$350 | $350–$540 | Spring size and cycle rating, door weight |
| Extension springs, both replaced (parts and labor) | $120–$250 | $300–$400 | Containment cables, pulleys |
| Torsion springs, parts only | — | $80–$120 | Higher-cycle springs cost more |
| Extension springs, parts only | — | $20–$60 | Spring size |
| Service call or diagnostic visit (no repair) | $50–$75 | — | Ask whether it applies toward the repair |
Published garage door spring replacement costs (national cost guides). National figures for budgeting, shown side by side by source. They are not Fulshear or Houston-area averages, and not prices from the independent company that receives your request, which quotes after seeing your door.
- [1] Fixr — Garage door repair cost (updated Jan. 31, 2025). Figures checked Oct 28, 2026.
- [2] This Old House — Garage door spring cost (updated Mar. 10, 2026). Figures checked Oct 28, 2026.
When comparing quotes, check whether the price covers both springs, any cables or rollers, and the balance and safety checks above. A lower price for one spring isn’t comparable to a higher price for a pair with new cables.
Broken spring? Get it looked at by a local technician
We’re setting up a local garage door professional to respond to requests. Until then, these guides cover what to check, what to avoid and what to ask any garage door company.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my garage door spring is broken?
The common signs are a loud bang from the garage, a door that won't lift (or the opener runs and strains but the door barely moves), a door that feels very heavy by hand, or a door that rises crooked. On a torsion system you can usually see a gap of a few inches in one of the springs above the door.
Can I still open the garage door with a broken spring?
You shouldn't. Without a working spring the door's full weight is no longer counterbalanced, and the opener isn't designed to lift it. Forcing it can damage the opener, bend the door, or let the door drop. DASMA advises not operating a door with a broken spring.
Should both garage door springs be replaced at the same time?
On a two-spring door, yes in most cases. Spring manufacturer Clopay recommends replacing both together, because the second spring has gone through the same number of cycles and is often close to failing too. Doing both also keeps the door balanced.
How long do garage door springs last?
Spring life is measured in cycles: one cycle is the door opening and closing once. Clopay says most garage door springs are designed for about 10,000 cycles. How many years that lasts depends on how often your household uses the door.
How much does garage door spring replacement cost?
National cost guides differ. For replacing both springs, parts and labor, Fixr (2025) lists $200–$350 for torsion springs and $120–$250 for extension springs, while This Old House (2026) lists $350–$540 and $300–$400. The springs themselves are a small part of that: This Old House puts the parts at about $80–$120 for torsion and $20–$60 for extension. These are budgeting figures, not Fulshear prices or quotes from the company that receives your request. Ask what's included — both springs, new cables or rollers, and a balance and safety check.
What's the difference between torsion and extension springs?
Torsion springs sit on a steel tube above the door and twist to lift it. Extension springs run alongside the horizontal tracks and stretch. Extension springs must have a safety containment cable through the middle so a broken spring can't whip loose.
Sources and further reading
- DASMA Technical Data Sheet #167 — Garage door safety and maintenance
- Clopay — Do I have a broken garage door spring?
- Clopay — Garage door spring systems
- Genie — Maintaining your garage door
- International Door Association — Garage door care and maintenance
- Fixr — Garage door repair cost (updated Jan. 31, 2025)
- This Old House — Garage door spring cost (updated Mar. 10, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 (via Census Reporter) — Fulshear, TX
Page last reviewed . This page is general information, not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a qualified technician. Spotted an error? Tell us.