2026-04-09 7 min read
If you've ever heard a loud bang from your garage and walked in to find the door sitting crooked or completely stuck, there's a good chance a spring just gave out. It's one of the most common repair calls we get here in Griswold. and it's also one of the most misunderstood. Most homeowners don't think twice about their springs until something goes wrong, and by then they're either trapped inside their garage or locked out of it.
Given the freeze-thaw winters we get in New London County. temperatures swinging above and below freezing multiple times in a single week. garage door springs here take a harder beating than they would in a milder climate. That repeated thermal stress causes metal fatigue over time, shortening the lifespan of springs faster than most people expect.
Your garage door, whether it's a single panel or a sectional, weighs anywhere from 150 to 300 pounds. Springs are what make it manageable. Torsion springs sit horizontally above the door opening and use torque to lift the door. Extension springs run along the sides of the door and stretch as it opens. Both types counterbalance the door's weight, which is why your opener doesn't have to strain to lift it. and why you can lift it yourself with one hand when everything's working right.
Springs are rated by cycles, not by years. One cycle equals one full open-and-close. Most standard springs are rated for around 10,000 cycles. If you're using your garage door four times a day. which is pretty typical for a family in Griswold commuting toward Norwich or New London. you'll burn through those cycles in roughly seven years.
Look above your door when it's closed. If you see a horizontal spring (or two) mounted on a bar across the top, that's a torsion system. If you see springs running along the horizontal tracks on either side, those are extension springs. Older homes. including some of the mid-century ranch and Cape Cod-style houses common throughout the Jewett City area. often still have extension spring systems. Newer builds and replacements typically use torsion springs, which are more durable and provide smoother operation.
Springs rarely fail with zero warning. Here's what to watch for:
- A loud bang or snap from the garage. often described as sounding like a gunshot. If you hear this while the door is sitting still, a torsion spring likely just broke. Don't try to operate the door. - The door won't lift, or feels extremely heavy. if your opener runs but the door barely moves, or you pull the emergency cord and can't budge it manually, the spring isn't doing its job. - Visible gap in the coil. look at your torsion spring. A break shows up as a clear separation in the coil, usually with a gap of an inch or two. - Uneven movement or sagging on one side. this often means one spring has weakened while the other is still holding tension. The door may tilt noticeably as it opens. - The opener strains or stops mid-lift. when a spring is weak, the opener has to compensate. This puts unnecessary wear on the motor and can shorten its lifespan too.
If you notice any of these, the right move is to stop using the door and schedule a service call. Forcing a door open with a broken spring can damage cables, drums, the opener, and in the worst case, cause the door to drop suddenly.
This is one repair where the honest answer is: leave it to a professional. Springs are under enormous tension. enough to cause serious injury if released improperly. Proper replacement requires specialized winding bars and precise tension calibration to match your specific door's weight and dimensions. Using the wrong spring or winding it incorrectly can cause imbalance, premature failure, or a door that drops unexpectedly. You can browse a full overview of our repair and spring services to understand what a professional assessment covers.
One practical tip if you have a two-spring system: if one breaks, replace both at the same time. Both springs have gone through the same number of cycles, so if one snapped, the other is usually close behind. Replacing them together in a single visit saves you the cost of a second service call a few months down the road.
Spring replacement cost depends on a few factors: the type of spring (torsion vs. extension), the size and weight of your door, and whether one or both springs need replacing. Torsion springs generally cost more than extension springs because they're heavier-duty and require more skill to install correctly. If a technician finds your cables, drums, or rollers are also stressed from operating with a bad spring, those may need attention too.
If you're thinking about cost in the bigger picture, take a look at our post on budget-friendly garage door options. it covers how to prioritize repairs without overspending.
You can't stop springs from wearing out, but you can slow the process:
- Lubricate twice a year. use a lithium-based or silicone spray on the spring coils, not WD-40. This reduces friction and helps the metal handle temperature swings better. - Annual balance check. disconnect the opener, lift the door manually to waist height, and let go. If it stays put, the spring tension is balanced. If it falls or flies up, the springs need adjustment. - Don't force a stiff door. if the door is sluggish, there's a reason. Running the opener harder than it needs to puts extra cycles on the springs faster.
Q: Can I still use my garage door if I think a spring is broken? A: No. Operating a door with a broken spring puts extreme stress on the opener motor and cables, and the door could drop suddenly. Disconnect the opener and leave the door in the closed position until a technician can assess it.
Q: How long does spring replacement take? A: For most standard residential doors in Griswold and the surrounding area, a professional can complete the full replacement. including inspection of cables, drums, and balance. in 30 to 90 minutes.
Q: My spring broke in winter. Is that common? A: Yes, very. Cold temperatures cause metal to contract and become more brittle, and the constant freeze-thaw cycles we see in southeastern Connecticut accelerate metal fatigue. Late winter and early spring are the most common times for spring failures in this region.