A garage door spring does almost all the work of lifting the door. The motor only guides it. So when a spring breaks, the door becomes what it actually weighs, 80 to 150kg of steel or timber, and nothing else is holding it up.
How to tell it's the spring
You heard a bang, often loud enough to hear from inside the house. The door won't lift, or the motor strains and gives up. If you look at the shaft above the door you may see a clear gap in the coiled spring, or a spring hanging loose down one side. The door feels immovably heavy if you try it by hand.
Don't force it, and don't lift it by hand. A torsion spring stores enough energy to break bones, and a door with one broken spring can drop without warning.
Disconnect the opener if it's still trying to run, keep children and cars out of the garage, and call us on 021 0867 9712. If it has let go in the evening or over a weekend, call anyway and we will sort something.
What we do
We measure the existing spring for wire gauge, inside diameter, length and wind direction, because a spring that isn't matched to your door's weight will fail again within months.
We replace in pairs. If one spring has gone, the other is the same age and the same cycle count, and the other may also be due for replacement.
We then rebalance the door, reset the opener force limits and test the safety reverse before we leave.
Torsion vs tension springs
Torsion springs sit on a shaft above the door and suit heavier sectional doors. They're more durable, safer when they fail, and what we'd fit where the door allows it.
Tension (extension) springs run along the tracks either side and are common on older and lighter doors. We'll tell you which you have when we look.
How long a spring lasts
Springs are rated in cycles, not years. Typically 10,000, which is roughly seven years at four uses a day, or three to four years if your garage is the main door to the house. An inspection can help establish the cause of an early failure.
Timing
The right replacement depends on the door and spring specification. We confirm parts availability, the proposed work and timing when quoting.
What it costs
It depends on the spring size and the weight of your door, so we won't guess at a figure here. Call and tell us what happened and roughly how big the door is, and we'll give you a straight answer before we come out. The price is confirmed before we start work.
Common questions
No. Torsion springs are wound under extreme tension and require specific winding bars to release safely. Have the door assessed by a garage door technician.
We inspect the spring arrangement and condition, then explain whether replacing one or both is appropriate for your door.
Timing depends on the door, matching parts and the work required. We confirm an expected visit window when quoting.
Only to remove a car if the door is already open and safely supported. Otherwise leave it alone until it's repaired.