Your garage door springs do one job: they counterbalance the weight of the door so the opener doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting. When a spring fails, the door becomes dangerous to use and hard on your opener. Most garage doors in Spring use one of two types of springs, and knowing which one you have matters when something breaks.
How Springs Balance Your Door
A typical garage door weighs between 300 and 500 pounds. Without a spring system, your electric opener would burn out in months trying to lift that weight repeatedly. Springs store mechanical energy and release it gradually as the door opens and closes. This is why a broken spring makes your door feel impossibly heavy, even if the opener still works.
The two main spring types work on different principles. One winds up like a clock. The other stretches like a rubber band. Both do the same job, but they fail differently, cost different amounts to replace, and affect how safe your door is.
Torsion Springs: How They Work
Torsion springs mount horizontally above your garage door, running across the width of the opening. When the door closes, the spring winds up tightly. When you open the door, that wound-up energy unwinds and helps lift the door. Think of it like a window shade that recoils when you release it.
Torsion springs are made from high-strength steel wound into a coil. The spring sits on a steel shaft held in place by brackets on each end. As the door moves, the spring rotates on that shaft. Most residential garage doors in Spring use torsion springs because they last longer and take up less space than extension springs.
A torsion spring typically lasts 7 to 10 years with normal use. Some last longer if you don't open and close the door excessively. When a torsion spring breaks, the door usually stops moving entirely because the spring has lost its ability to counterbalance the weight. The door won't open, and you can't force it without risking damage to the opener or the door itself.
Extension Springs: How They Work
Extension springs run vertically along each side of the garage door opening. Instead of winding up, they stretch out as the door closes, storing energy like a stretched rubber band. When you open the door, they contract and help pull the door up.
Extension springs are cheaper to replace than torsion springs, which is why some older homes and budget installations use them. They do the job, but they have drawbacks. Extension springs need safety cables running through the center of each spring. If the spring breaks, the cable is supposed to catch it and keep the broken spring from flying across the garage. This is a real safety issue. A broken extension spring under tension can cause serious injury.
Extension springs wear out faster than torsion springs, typically lasting 4 to 7 years. They also take up more space because they need to stretch freely along the sides of the opening.
Why Torsion Springs Are Safer
The main safety difference comes down to what happens when the spring fails. A torsion spring is contained within a shaft and brackets. When it breaks, it stays in place. You get a broken door, but you don't get a flying piece of metal.
An extension spring, if the safety cable fails, can snap across the garage with real force. This is why building codes in many areas now require safety cables on extension springs, and why many new installations use torsion springs instead.
That said, torsion springs are under extreme tension. If you try to replace one yourself, you can get seriously hurt. The spring is wound so tightly that it can snap and cause injury. This is work for a professional. Extension springs are slightly easier to handle, but still dangerous.
Cost and Replacement
In Spring, a torsion spring replacement typically costs between $200 and $400 per spring, depending on the door size and spring quality. Most doors have one spring, some have two. Extension spring replacement runs $100 to $200 per spring, plus the cost of replacing safety cables if needed.
When you call for a repair, a technician will inspect the springs and tell you which type you have and what needs replacing. If your door is older and still has extension springs, this is a good time to ask about upgrading to torsion springs. It costs more upfront, but you get better performance and longer intervals between replacements.
What to Do When a Spring Breaks
Don't try to open the door if a spring is broken. Call a garage door service right away. A broken spring means the door is no longer balanced, and forcing it can damage the opener, the door tracks, or the panels. It's not a safe DIY fix.
If you notice your door opening slowly, closing faster than it should, or feeling heavier than usual, the spring may be wearing out. These are signs a replacement is coming soon. Catching this early means you can schedule service on your timeline instead of dealing with an emergency breakdown.
LGA Garage Door Service handles spring replacements and repairs throughout Spring. If you're not sure what type of springs your door has or you need a professional to take a look, call us to set up a service visit.
