Broken Spring Repair & Replacement

Types of Garage Door Springs

There are two main spring systems used on residential garage doors in Bryan-College Station. Knowing which type you have helps you understand the repair involved.

• Torsion springs — mounted on a metal shaft above the door opening, torsion springs use torque to lift the door. They are the most common type in newer BCS homes and provide smoother, more controlled movement.
• Extension springs — these run along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door and stretch to store energy. They are found on older or lighter single-car doors throughout Brazos County.
• How each works — torsion springs wind and unwind to raise and lower the door, while extension springs expand and contract. Both counterbalance the door's weight so the opener does not have to do all the heavy lifting.
• Lifespan — a standard torsion spring is rated for roughly 10,000 cycles (about seven to ten years of typical use). Extension springs often wear out faster. High-cycle springs can last 25,000 cycles or more.

Signs Your Springs Are Failing

Springs rarely break without warning. Watch for these signs so you can schedule a repair before you are stuck with a door that will not open.

• Door feels heavy when lifting manually — if the door is hard to raise by hand, the springs are losing tension and no longer counterbalancing the weight properly.
• Visible gap in the coil — a torsion spring with a clear separation in the coils has already snapped and needs immediate replacement.
• Loud bang from the garage — many homeowners in College Station describe hearing a loud pop or bang, almost like a gunshot, when a spring breaks. That sound is the spring unwinding all at once.
• Door won't stay open — if the door drifts closed or won't hold at the halfway point during a balance test, the springs are worn.
• Uneven movement — the door rises crookedly or one side lags behind the other, which can also lead to off-track problems.

What Happens When a Spring Breaks

A broken spring puts your entire garage door system at risk. Here is what to expect and why professional repair matters.

• Door won't open — without functioning springs, the opener alone cannot lift a door that weighs 150 to 400 pounds. Forcing it can burn out the motor.
• Opener strain — even if the opener manages to move the door, it is working far beyond its design limits and will fail prematurely.
• Cable snap risk — a broken spring transfers abnormal stress to the lift cables, which can fray or snap under the extra load.
• Safety concerns — a door without spring support can drop without warning. This is especially dangerous in homes with children or pets.

If you suspect a broken spring, do not attempt to open the door. Call our team for same-day service across Bryan, College Station, and all of Brazos County. We carry the most common spring sizes on our trucks so we can finish most repairs in a single visit.

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