2026-04-16 7 min read
If you've ever walked into your garage and found the door completely unresponsive. motor running, nothing moving. there's a good chance a spring just gave out. It's one of the most common calls we get here in Brighton, and it tends to happen at the worst possible times: early morning before work, in the middle of a Colorado snowstorm, or right when you're trying to get somewhere fast.
Understanding how springs work, what they cost to replace, and when to call a professional can save you time, money, and. more importantly. a serious injury.
Your garage door is heavy. A standard double door weighs anywhere from 150 to 200 pounds, and the springs are what make lifting it feel effortless. There are two main types you'll find on Brighton homes:
Torsion springs are mounted horizontally above the door opening and are the most common type found on modern sectional doors. exactly the kind you'll see throughout newer neighborhoods like Brighton Crossings and the Villages at Prairie Center. They store mechanical energy by twisting when the door closes and releasing that energy to assist the opener when the door opens.
Extension springs run along the upper horizontal tracks on either side of the door. You're more likely to find these on older homes in established parts of Brighton and nearby Commerce City. They stretch and contract with door movement, and they require safety cables to prevent them from snapping across the garage if they break.
Both types have a finite lifespan. typically rated by cycles. Most standard springs are rated for around 10,000 cycles. If you open and close your garage door four times a day (pretty normal for a busy Brighton family), that's about seven years of use before replacement becomes likely.
Springs rarely fail without giving some advance notice. Here's what to watch for:
- The door feels unusually heavy when you lift it manually. Disconnect the opener and try raising the door by hand. it should lift smoothly with one hand. If it feels like you're wrestling it open, your springs are losing tension. - Visible gaps in the spring coil. A broken torsion spring will have a visible separation in the coil. If you see a gap above your door, the spring is done. - Loud bang from the garage. A spring snapping under tension makes a sound like a gunshot. If you hear a loud crack from the garage, stop using the door immediately and check the springs. - The door opens unevenly or crooked. If one side rises faster than the other, one spring may have failed while the other is still holding. - Cables hanging loose. When a spring breaks, the cables that attach to your door may go slack. Loose or dangling cables are a sure sign something has let go.
If you notice any of these signs, you can check our frequently asked questions for immediate guidance, but the short answer is: stop using the door and call a professional.
For Colorado homeowners, garage door repair costs vary depending on what needs fixing, but spring replacement is one of the more predictable line items. Here's a realistic breakdown:
- Torsion spring replacement (single): Materials run $30,$70 per spring, with labor adding $75,$125, putting the total around $150,$200 for a single spring. - Extension spring replacement (pair): Expect $40,$80 for the springs themselves, plus $130,$160 in labor. roughly $170,$240 total. - Two-spring systems (common on double-car doors): The full job including labor typically runs $300,$500 depending on spring size, door weight, and whether other components need attention at the same time.
Those are real-world numbers for the Denver metro area. Prices can vary based on the spring type, your door's size and weight, and whether additional work. like cable or drum replacement. is needed at the same time.
One important piece of advice: always replace springs in pairs. If one broke, the other is the same age and under the same wear. Replacing just the broken one is a short-term fix that leaves you calling a technician again in a few months.
This isn't a legal disclaimer. it's practical advice. Garage door springs are under tremendous tension. A torsion spring holds enough stored energy that if it slips during installation, it can cause serious injury or death. Even experienced mechanics treat spring work with respect.
The tools required to safely wind and unwind torsion springs aren't typically found in a homeowner's garage. And the cost of a professional repair. usually $150 to $300. is nothing compared to an ER visit or the cost of a door that comes crashing down on a car.
For most tasks around the house, DIY makes sense. Spring replacement is one job where calling Garage Door Company Brighton is the right call, every time.
If your spring breaks and you're stuck, here's what you *can* safely do:
1. Don't try to force the door open with the opener. Running the motor against a broken spring can burn out the opener. 2. Engage the manual release cord (usually a red cord hanging from the rail) to disconnect the opener. 3. Get help from another person to manually lift the door if you need to move a vehicle. it will be very heavy without spring assist. 4. Leave the door in the down position until a technician arrives. An unsupported door in the up position is a safety risk.
For urgent situations, you can book a same-day visit with our team. we stock the most common spring sizes and can typically complete the replacement in under an hour.
Most springs sold today are standard 10,000-cycle units, but higher-cycle springs rated for 25,000 or even 50,000 cycles are available at a modest price premium. For Brighton homeowners who use their garage as the primary entry point to their home. which is most of us. investing in higher-cycle springs at replacement time is genuinely worth the extra $20,$40 per spring.
And regardless of spring type, regular lubrication and annual inspections will extend the life of every component. A quick spray of garage door lubricant on the spring coils every six months makes a real difference, especially given Brighton's dramatic temperature swings. from 19°F lows in January to near 90°F in summer. which put repeated thermal stress on metal components.
Q: Can I still use my garage door if the spring is broken? A: You shouldn't. Using the opener with a broken spring can burn out the motor and cause the door to drop suddenly. Disconnect the opener and leave the door down until the spring is replaced.
Q: How do I know if I have torsion or extension springs? A: Look above the door opening. If you see a single horizontal spring mounted on a metal bar across the top, that's a torsion spring. If you see springs running along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door, those are extension springs. Both are common in Brighton homes depending on the age of the house.
Q: Should I replace both springs even if only one broke? A: Yes. always replace both at the same time. Springs are typically the same age and under the same wear, so if one fails, the other is likely to follow within weeks or months. Replacing both saves you a second service call and keeps the door balanced.