Broken garage door spring repair
If the door suddenly won't open, you heard a bang like a gunshot from the garage, or the opener strains and stops after a few inches, the most likely cause is a broken spring. It's the most common garage door repair, and it isn't a safe do-it-yourself job.
How to tell if a spring is broken
- Torsion springs sit on a bar above the door. A broken one has a visible gap of an inch or two in the coil.
- Extension springs run along the tracks on each side. A broken one hangs loose or is missing, and it should be held by a safety cable running through it.
- The door feels extremely heavy, opens a few inches and stops, or goes up crooked.
- Cables are hanging loose at the bottom corners.
Spring life, in numbers
| Spec | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| 1 cycle | One full open and one full close. |
| ≈ 10,000 cycles | A common rating for a standard torsion spring. |
| 3–5 cycles / day | Typical use in a household that uses the garage as the main entry. |
| ≈ 6–9 years | Roughly how long a standard spring lasts at that use. Higher-cycle springs last longer. |
If your door has two springs and one broke, the other has done the same number of cycles. Contractors usually recommend replacing both so the door stays balanced.
What the contractor does
The contractor measures the old spring (wire size, inside diameter and length) and matches it to the door's weight and height, then installs the new springs with proper winding bars, sets the tension, and checks the cables, drums and bearings. A correctly balanced door stays in place when it's let go halfway up. They should also test the opener afterward, since an opener that ran against a broken spring may need adjusting.
Questions to ask before work starts
- What is your business name and New Jersey HIC registration number (13VH…)?
- What exactly is broken, and what parts will you replace?
- What is the total price, including parts, labor and any trip charge?
- What warranty comes with the parts and the labor, and is it in writing?
New Jersey requires a written contract for home improvement work over $500. Keep a copy.