Quick answer: 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.
If your garage door suddenly feels impossibly heavy or won't open at all, a broken spring is the most likely culprit. Here is how garage door springs work and what {state} homeowners should know. If you need garage door repair in New Brunswick, NJ, call (732) 426-0833 for a free estimate.
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.
If your door has two springs and one broke, replace both. They share the same cycle life, so the second is right behind the first, and doing both at once saves a second service call. A good technician also checks the cables and bearings while they are there.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From a small adjustment to a brand-new door, we've got New Brunswick covered. Explore our garage door services, read more on the blog, or see the towns we cover on our service area page. Call (732) 426-0833 for a free estimate.
Your garage door can be up to a third of your home's street-facing surface, so it has an outsized effect on curb appeal
Read more →A garage door is the largest moving object in most New Brunswick homes, and when something goes wrong it rarely fixes itself
Read more →Fast, local, and reliable — same-day service and free estimates.