Broken Garage Door Spring? What to Do Next
A broken garage door spring sounds like a gunshot and can trap your car inside. Here's the exact playbook.
First: Don't Try to Open It
A double-car garage door weighs 150–350 pounds. The torsion springs are what makes it liftable — with a broken spring, the opener will burn out its motor trying to lift the door. Disconnect the opener by pulling the red emergency cord.
Never DIY Spring Replacement
Torsion springs hold hundreds of pounds of tension. A slip while winding one can cause severe injury or death. This is one of the few home repairs that is genuinely dangerous — always call a professional.
What Spring Replacement Should Cost
- Single torsion spring replacement: $180–$350
- Pair replacement (recommended): $280–$500
- Extension springs (older doors): $200–$300
- Full spring conversion (extension → torsion): $450–$800
The Right Way to Prevent Another Break
Standard springs are rated for 10,000 cycles (~7 years for the average family). High-cycle springs are rated for 25,000+ cycles (~20 years) and only cost $40 more. Always ask for high-cycle springs when replacing.