Why did my garage door spring break?
Most garage door springs break simply because they wore out: a standard spring is rated for about 10,000 open-and-close cycles, which is about 7 years at four cycles a day. Rust, skipped lubrication, a cold snap or a spring too small for the door make it happen sooner. Replacing the pair typically costs $275 – $450 in the Triangle.
The six usual reasons
- It reached the end of its cycles. This is the most common reason by far. Every open and close twists the spring and relaxes it again. A standard spring is rated for about 10,000 of those cycles, and then the steel cracks, usually with a loud bang.
- Rust. North Carolina humidity rusts springs that are never oiled. Rust adds friction between the coils and pits the steel, and a pitted spring cracks early.
- No lubrication. Dry coils rub against each other on every cycle. A light coat of garage door lubricant every six months cuts that wear.
- A cold snap. Cold does not wear a spring out, but it often finishes off one that is already close: the steel is a little more brittle and the door is stiffer to move. Spring calls pick up on the first cold mornings of the year.
- The wrong spring for the door. A spring sized for a lighter door works harder than it should on every cycle. This happens when a door was replaced or insulated and the springs were not changed to match its new weight.
- A door out of balance, or a single-spring setup. When one spring carries a door meant for two, or the door is not balanced, the spring takes more load and wears out faster.
How long should your spring last?
Count one cycle each time the door opens and closes. Most families make 3 to 6 cycles a day, more if the garage is the main way in and out of the house.
| Cycles a day | Standard spring (10,000 cycles) | High-cycle (25,000) | High-cycle (50,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | about 14 years | 25+ years | 25+ years |
| 4 | about 6.8 years | about 17 years | 25+ years |
| 6 | about 4.6 years | about 11 years | about 23 years |
| 8 | about 3.4 years | about 8.6 years | about 17 years |
Those are averages for a well-kept door. Rust, skipped lubrication or a mismatched spring shorten them.
How to tell it was the spring
You heard a bang like a gunshot from the garage, you can see a gap in the coil above the door, the opener hums but the door rises a few inches and stops, or the door feels far too heavy to lift. The spring replacement cost guide has the full price breakdown and what to ask before you book.
What to do right now
Leave the door closed. Pull the red emergency release only if the door is fully down. Don’t keep pressing the opener button. If a car is trapped or the door is stuck open at night, call (910) 760-1466. The line is answered 24/7.
How to make the next pair last longer
- Replace both springs together. They have done the same number of cycles, so the second one is close to breaking too.
- Ask for high-cycle springs if the garage is your main door. They cost a little more and last two to five times longer.
- Spray the springs with garage door lubricant every six months (not grease, and never on a broken spring).
- Get a yearly tune-up so the springs stay balanced to the door and the cables are checked. Ours is $99. See the maintenance plan.
What it costs to fix
A matched pair of torsion springs typically costs $275 – $450 installed in Raleigh and the Triangle, with the price in writing before any work. See broken spring repair, how long the rest of the door lasts, or find your town: garage door repair in Raleigh, Wake Forest, Franklinton and Youngsville.
Spring snapped? We can usually fix it today.
Call or text JC’s line. You’ll get a real person, honest advice on what to do right now, and a truck on the way.