Garage door spring broke again?

Every spring is rated for a certain number of cycles, and one cycle is one open and one close. A basic residential spring is often built for a modest number, and a busy family can use it up faster than people expect. If the replacement had a low cycle rating, it will fail about when you would expect for that rating. See spring cycle life for how it works.

The second common cause is the wrong spring. A torsion spring has to match the door's weight, the drum size and the wire size. A spring that is too light or too short gets overstretched every time the door moves and breaks sooner. Doors that have been insulated, had windows added, or been painted heavily may weigh more than they did when the original springs were chosen.

Rust and dry coils are a third cause. In Colorado, moisture from freeze and thaw cycles can sit on a spring and pit the steel. The coils rub, and a break starts at the weak point. A spring that is badly wound or installed on a shaft with a worn bearing can break early too. We cannot tell which applies without looking at your door, and we will not pretend otherwise.

Repair is almost always the right move here. The door usually does not need replacing just because springs failed. If the door is sagging, cracked or damaged, a panel replacement or a new door may be worth discussing.

Our warranty answer covers what we stand behind. If another company's work failed, we cannot speak for what they did, but we can show you what we find.