2026-03-19 6 min read
It usually happens without much warning. You're leaving for work, you hit the button, and nothing moves. Or the door lurches up a foot and stops. Or you hear what sounds like a gunshot from the garage at 2 a.m. In almost every one of these scenarios, the culprit is the same: a broken or failing garage door spring.
Spring failures are among the most common service calls we handle throughout South Pasadena and the broader Pasadena area. and they're also among the most misunderstood. Here's a straightforward guide to what's actually happening, how to spot trouble before it becomes an emergency, and why this is one job you should absolutely leave to a professional.
Your garage door can weigh anywhere from 150 to over 350 pounds depending on its size and material. The springs. not the opener motor. are what actually do the heavy lifting. The opener simply coordinates the movement; the springs provide the counterbalancing tension that makes lifting that weight feel effortless.
There are two main types. Torsion springs are mounted horizontally above the door and twist as the door moves. they're the more durable option and the standard in most modern installations. Extension springs run along the sides of the door and stretch and contract with each cycle. they're common in older homes and generally wear out faster.
Most springs are rated for around 10,000 cycles, with one cycle being a complete open and close. If you use your garage door four times a day. which is typical for a family in South Pasadena using it as their primary entry. that works out to roughly seven years of use. High-cycle springs rated for 20,000 or more cycles are available and worth asking about if longevity matters to you.
Spring lifespan also depends on factors beyond raw cycle count. The historic Craftsman bungalows and Spanish Revival homes throughout South Pasadena often have older hardware that was never upgraded when openers were installed. If your home is more than 15,20 years old and the springs are original, they may already be living on borrowed time regardless of how often you use the door.
A spring doesn't always fail all at once. More often, it gives you signals first. and catching them early means the difference between a planned repair and an emergency call.
The door feels unusually heavy. Disconnect your opener and try lifting the door manually. It should go up with moderate effort and stay at waist height on its own. If it feels like you're lifting dead weight, or if it drops back down when you let go, your springs have likely lost significant tension. This is your clearest diagnostic test.
The door moves unevenly or jerks. If your garage door looks lopsided or tilts to one side while opening or closing, it often means one spring has failed while the other is still functioning. This imbalance puts extra stress on your opener motor and on the remaining spring, which will fail soon after.
You hear grinding, squeaking, or popping during operation. Some noise is normal, but new sounds. especially sudden loud pops or grinding. can indicate a spring that's misaligned, dry, or close to breaking. Don't ignore unusual noises. Check our 7 warning signs post for a broader look at what different sounds typically mean.
Visible rust, gaps in the coils, or stretched-out coils. Visually inspect your springs monthly if possible. Rust makes the metal brittle and dramatically increases the risk of a sudden snap. Gaps between coils mean the spring has stretched past its functional range and can no longer store adequate tension.
The door slams shut or drops faster than it should. A garage door should close smoothly and with resistance. If it falls quickly or slams, the springs aren't providing enough counterbalance. that's a serious safety concern and should be addressed immediately.
This is not a caveat added for legal reasons. it's genuinely important. Torsion springs store enormous amounts of mechanical energy. When a spring snaps under full tension, that energy releases instantly and violently. A breaking spring can cause severe injury, damage vehicles, or destroy surrounding hardware in seconds. The tools required to wind and set torsion springs safely are specialized, and without them, the risk of a catastrophic release is very real.
Professional technicians carry those tools, know the correct spring specifications for your door's weight and height, and work with the safety protocols this job demands. The cost difference between DIY and professional spring replacement is not worth the risk.
Most spring replacements take between 60 and 90 minutes. A qualified technician will assess both springs. even if only one has visibly broken. because springs wear at the same rate and replacing just one leaves you with a mismatched system prone to early failure. Replacing both at the same time is standard practice and saves you from a repeat service call within months.
After installation, the tech should test the door balance, verify that the opener engages and releases properly, and check the cable drums and hardware for any wear that the failing spring may have accelerated.
If your springs are more than seven years old and showing any wear, it's worth having them evaluated as part of your next routine service visit. Visit our services page to see what a full inspection covers, or reach out to schedule a visit from Garage Door South Pasadena.
For a fuller picture of what proactive maintenance looks like through the year, our seasonal maintenance checklist is a practical starting point.
Q: How do I know if my spring is broken versus another part of the system? A: The quickest test is to disconnect the opener (pull the red emergency release cord) and try lifting the door manually from the bottom. If the door is extremely heavy or won't budge, a broken spring is the most likely cause. If it lifts but won't stay up on its own, the spring tension has weakened significantly. A door that opens but makes a loud bang at the start of operation has likely had a spring snap during a previous cycle.
Q: Should I replace both springs even if only one is broken? A: Yes. and any reputable technician will recommend this. Springs are installed as a matched set and wear at the same rate. If one has failed after seven or eight years, the other is close behind. Replacing both simultaneously costs less in labor than two separate service calls and keeps your door balanced and safe.
Q: How long does a spring replacement take, and will I be able to use my door the same day? A: Most professional spring replacements are completed in 60 to 90 minutes. In the vast majority of cases, your door will be fully operational the same day. If additional issues are discovered during the repair. worn cables, a struggling opener motor, misaligned tracks. your technician will walk you through the options before doing any additional work.