Spring Replacement & System Tune-Ups

A broken garage door spring is the most common emergency call we get — and for good reason. Your springs do 90% of the heavy lifting, counterbalancing 150-400 pounds of door weight so the opener only has to provide movement force. When a spring breaks, it sounds like a gunshot, your door becomes dead weight, and your day comes to a halt.

Torsion vs Extension Springs

Torsion Springs mount horizontally above the garage door opening on a metal shaft. They twist (that’s what torsion means) to store energy as the door closes, then unwind to help lift the door when it opens. Torsion springs provide smooth, balanced lifting force and stay on the shaft when they break — making failures safer. This is the system we install on every new door and recommend for every upgrade.

Extension Springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door. They stretch to store energy. The problem: without safety cables, a broken extension spring becomes a projectile. We’ve seen them punch through car hoods and embed in ceiling joists. If you have extension springs, you MUST have safety cables running through them. If you don’t have cables, call us today — it’s a $50-$75 install that can prevent serious injury.

Spring Replacement Pricing

Single torsion spring replacement: $150-$250. Both springs (recommended — if one broke, the other is the same age): $250-$400. High-cycle spring upgrade (25,000 or 50,000 cycles vs standard 10,000): add $75-$150 per spring. Extension spring replacement: $100-$200 per spring including safety cables.

Why Springs Break

Standard springs are rated for 10,000 cycles (one open + one close = one cycle). At 3-4 cycles per day, that’s 7-10 years. California accelerates this: Inland Empire heat (repeated thermal expansion/contraction), coastal salt air (corrosion), and seismic micro-stresses all reduce spring life. We see springs fail at 5-7 years in harsh California climates.

System Tune-Ups

A professional tune-up every 1-2 years catches small problems before they become emergencies. Our tune-up includes: spring inspection and lubrication, cable inspection, roller inspection and replacement if needed, track alignment check, opener force and travel adjustment, safety sensor test, hardware tightening, and a full balance test. Cost: $100-$150.

Same-Day Spring Replacement

Broken springs are our priority calls. Most spring replacements across California are completed the same day — often within 2-4 hours of your call. Call 866-280-8355. Do NOT attempt to open the door with the opener when a spring is broken — you’ll burn out the motor.

Frequently Asked Questions