Garage door springs are under extreme tension. If one breaks while you’re working on it, it can cause serious injury or death.
This page explains why spring replacement is not a DIY job, what happens during a professional repair, and how to tell if your springs need attention.
What does a garage door spring actually do?
Torsion springs mount horizontally above the door. When the door closes, the springs wind up and store energy. When you open the door, that energy releases to lift the weight. Each spring is calibrated to the exact weight of your door, a 16×7 steel door might need two springs rated for 150 pounds each. Extension springs, which run along the sides, stretch and contract instead of twist, but they carry the same lethal tension. In Richmond’s older neighbourhoods like Steveston or Burkeville, many homes still have original torsion systems from the 1970s or 80s, now well past their typical 10,000-cycle lifespan.
How can I tell if my spring is broken?
You’ll usually hear a loud bang, like a firecracker, coming from the garage. The door will feel extremely heavy if you try to lift it manually, or it won’t move at all. Visually, look for a gap in the torsion spring coil or a cable that’s slack and lying on the floor. Extension springs might show visible stretching or a broken hook. Do not confuse this with a door that’s off-track (which makes grinding noises) or a worn roller (which causes squeaking). A broken spring means the door’s counterbalance is gone; the opener might strain or refuse to lift the door entirely.
What can I safely check myself?
You can inspect the springs and cables visually from a safe distance, standing to the side, not underneath the door. Use a flashlight to look for rust, gaps in the coils, or fraying cables. Check the door’s balance: disconnect the opener and lift the door halfway up. If it stays put, the springs are likely balanced. If it drops or rises, they’re not. Never touch the winding cone or adjustment screws, that’s where the tension is released. If you see any wear, stop and call a technician. In Richmond’s coastal climate, salt air accelerates corrosion on springs, especially in areas near the Fraser River or along Sea Island Way.
Why is replacing a spring myself so dangerous?
Torsion springs store enough energy to launch a steel rod through concrete. The winding cones have set screws that, when loosened, release that energy instantly. If a bar slips or you use the wrong tool, the spring can unwind violently. Extension springs, while less dramatic, can still whip cables or hooks with enough force to cause blindness or fractures. YouTube videos make it look simple, but they don’t show the split-second timing required or the injuries that happen when things go wrong. A professional uses steel winding bars sized to the spring’s inner diameter, locks the shaft, and releases tension in quarter-turn increments, a process that takes training to do safely.
What does a technician actually do on the call?
First, they secure the door in the down position with locking pliers on the track. Then they measure the wire diameter, inside diameter, and length of the old spring to order the correct replacement, using a spring from the wrong batch can overload the opener or leave the door unbalanced. They release tension slowly with winding bars, remove the old spring, install the new one, and wind it to the exact number of turns specified for your door’s height and weight. After reinstalling the cables, they test the balance, adjust the opener’s force settings, and lubricate the springs. A proper replacement includes checking the cables, rollers, and hinges for wear, things a DIYer might miss until something else fails.
What affects the cost of spring replacement?
Cost varies by spring type, door size, and accessibility. A standard 16×7 torsion spring pair on a single-car garage is the most common job. Larger doors, carriage-style designs, or springs mounted on a high-lift track take more time and parts. If the cables are frayed or the drums are worn, those get replaced too, adding to the parts cost but preventing a repeat call. In Richmond, older homes in areas like Quilchena or Marpole often have custom-sized openings from the 1950s or 60s, requiring non-standard springs that cost more and take longer to source. A surcharge may apply depending on your area, but most replacements are scheduled repairs.
How do I prevent springs from breaking prematurely?
Springs break from metal fatigue, not age alone. A typical torsion spring is rated for 10,000 cycles, one cycle is a full open and close. If you use your garage as the main entrance, you might hit that in 5-7 years. Lubricate the springs three times a year with a silicone-based spray, not WD-40, which attracts dust. Keep the tracks clean and aligned; binding makes the motor work harder and increases stress on the springs. Consider upgrading to high-cycle springs (rated for 20,000+ cycles) if you open and close the door more than 15 times a day. In Richmond’s damp winters, wipe down the springs monthly to remove moisture that accelerates corrosion.
When should I call instead of trying to fix it?
If the spring is broken, call immediately. Do not attempt to lift the door, manually wind the spring, or “just see if it’s loose.” If the door is uneven, moves slowly, or makes loud noises but still works, schedule an inspection, those are early warning signs. A technician can often replace a spring before it breaks, saving you the risk of being trapped inside or outside your garage. For Richmond residents, the same coastal air that brings morning fog also speeds up rust on steel parts, regular checks are especially important here.
Why spring type changes the risk
Torsion springs wind tight on a shaft; when one fails, force travels sideways and can shear bolts or punch drywall. Extension springs run parallel to tracks and, without a sound safety cable, the broken end whips across the bay. Both are lethal, but failure modes differ, torsion stays contained until it doesn’t, while extension failures throw debris the full length of the garage.
On a standard garage door, the cones, brackets and pulleys holding either system are often original metal. Decades of vibration and temperature swings fatigue those anchors. A spring that tests fine on a bench can still kill if its bracket shears mid-repair. That’s why the whole assembly gets inspected, not just the coil.