Springs do roughly 90% of the work of lifting a garage door — the opener just guides it. When a spring breaks, the whole system stops working safely, which is why it is the single most common garage door failure in Garfield. If you need garage door repair in Garfield, NJ, call (973) 396-5193 for a free estimate.
A two-to-three-inch gap in the coil, a door that opens a few inches then stops, an opener that strains or reverses, or a door that feels like dead weight by hand all point to a spring. You don't always hear the bang.
Most modern doors use torsion springs mounted on a shaft above the opening; older or lighter doors use extension springs along the tracks. As the door closes the springs wind and store energy, then release it to lift the door. That stored energy is what makes a heavy door feel light.
Torsion springs sit on a bar above the door, last longer, and balance the door more smoothly — the modern standard. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks and should always have a safety cable so broken pieces can't fly. Knowing which you have helps describe the problem.
Springs are rated in cycles — one up-and-down is a cycle, and a standard spring lasts about 10,000 of them, or 7-10 years for a typical family. Rust from {state} humidity, cold snaps that make steel brittle, poor balance, and undersized springs all shorten that life.
Torsion springs hold tremendous stored energy and the winding bars can become projectiles if they slip — every year emergency rooms see DIY spring injuries. A trained technician has the right winding bars and the correctly sized spring and finishes the job safely in under an hour.
Can I replace a garage door spring myself?
It is strongly discouraged. The springs are under high tension and can cause serious injury. This is one repair that should always be left to a trained professional.
Why did my spring break in the cold?
Cold makes steel more brittle, so a spring already near the end of its life often snaps on the first freezing morning. It is one of the most common service calls we get each winter.
However your garage door is behaving, the Garfield crew can sort it out fast. Explore our garage door services, read more on the blog. Call (973) 396-5193 for a free estimate.
A new garage door is one of the highest-return exterior upgrades a Garfield home can make — it transforms curb appeal, improves insulation, and can boost r
Read more →A garage door cycles thousands of times a year, and a little routine care prevents the majority of breakdowns
Read more →Fast, local, and reliable — same-day service and free estimates.