2026-04-17 7 min read
If you've ever heard a loud bang echoing from your garage. especially on a cold January morning or after a long stretch of triple-digit summer heat. there's a good chance a garage door spring just let go. It's one of the most common calls we get here in Keene, and for good reason. The climate in Johnson County is genuinely hard on mechanical components. Summers are hot and muggy, winters are cold and windy, and that constant thermal cycling takes a real toll on the steel coils that do the heavy lifting every single time you open your door.
Most homeowners don't think much about springs until one breaks. But torsion springs (mounted above the door on a horizontal shaft) and extension springs (running along the sides of the tracks) are doing the real work every time your door moves. They counterbalance a door that can weigh anywhere from 150 to over 400 pounds, so your opener motor isn't grinding itself to death on every cycle.
When a spring fails, the door doesn't just open slower. it often won't open at all. And if you try to force it with the electric opener, you risk burning out the motor or making the problem worse. The honest advice: don't try to use the door until the spring is replaced.
Springs rarely give much warning, but there are a few things to watch for:
- The door feels unusually heavy when you lift it manually. If you disconnect the opener and the door won't stay up on its own, the spring tension is gone or nearly gone. - The door doesn't stay open or slams down faster than normal. - You hear squeaking or grinding near the top of the door frame during operation. - You can see a visible gap in the torsion spring coil. a sure sign it's snapped. - The opener strains audibly and the door moves unevenly or jerks.
If you're seeing any of these in a home in Willow Creek Estates or one of Keene's newer subdivisions off I-35, don't wait. A spring that's partially failed will finish the job soon, usually at the worst possible time.
Standard torsion springs that come with most new garage doors are rated for about 10,000 cycles. One cycle equals one open and one close. If your household uses the garage door four times a day. which is pretty typical for families commuting toward Fort Worth or Burleson. that's roughly 1,460 cycles per year. At that rate, you're looking at a lifespan of about seven years before a replacement is due.
The heat and humidity here accelerate wear on the metal. Homes in Keene and nearby Cleburne that don't have climate-controlled garages often see springs wear faster than that rated cycle count would suggest. Lubricating your springs twice a year with a proper garage door lubricant (not WD-40) helps, but it only goes so far. Check out our maintenance value breakdown for a fuller picture of what regular upkeep actually saves you.
The short answer: yes. If your garage has two torsion springs and one breaks, the other one is close behind. it's been running the same number of cycles under the same conditions. Replacing both at the same time costs less than two separate service calls and keeps the door balanced. An unbalanced door puts uneven stress on the opener, the cables, and the tracks.
For homeowners in Texas, professional spring replacement typically runs between $250 and $450, covering parts and labor. The variation comes down to a few factors:
- Spring type: Torsion springs cost more than extension springs due to complexity, but they're more durable and safer. - Spring quality: Standard springs rated at 10,000 cycles are at the lower end. High-cycle springs (25,000+ cycles) cost more upfront but are worth it for busy households. - Whether both springs are replaced: Replacing a pair costs more than one, but it's the smarter move. - Service call fee: This covers the technician and a fully equipped vehicle coming to your door.
Extension spring replacement generally runs $150,$250 installed. Torsion spring replacement usually lands in the $200,$350 range, with high-cycle upgrades pushing higher. These are real-world Texas numbers. not the bare-minimum figures you'll see on national comparison sites.
This comes up every time. Springs operate under extreme tension. enough stored energy that a sudden release can send metal flying, cause serious injury, or destroy your door, opener, or vehicle. Winding and unwinding torsion springs requires specific tools and training. The International Door Association reports thousands of injuries annually related to improper spring handling.
You can source the parts online for less, but incorrect spring sizing, wrong winding direction, or improper tension can cause just as many problems as the broken spring itself. It's one of the few garage door tasks where the professional cost is clearly worth it. Check our services page to see exactly what a spring replacement call includes.
A typical service visit runs 45,90 minutes. The technician will:
1. Inspect both springs, cables, and drums 2. Remove the broken spring(s) safely 3. Install the correct replacement spring(s) matched to your door's weight 4. Re-tension and balance the door 5. Test manual and automatic operation 6. Check opener force settings and reverse function
A thorough tech will also flag any related issues. frayed cables, worn rollers, bent tracks. while they're already there. If you've got questions before booking, our FAQ page covers the most common ones we hear.
The clearest sign of a broken torsion spring is a visible gap in the coil above the door. If the door is extremely heavy when lifted manually or won't lift at all, a broken spring is the most likely cause. Opener issues, cable problems, and track damage can produce similar symptoms. a technician can diagnose it quickly.
No. Don't try to open a door with a broken spring using your electric opener. the opener is not designed to lift the full weight of the door and can fail or cause the door to drop suddenly. Use your side entry door until the spring is replaced.
High-cycle torsion springs (rated 25,000+ cycles) typically add $50,$150 to the cost of a standard replacement. For households in Keene using the garage door six or more times daily. common in commuter households heading up I-35. the upgrade pays for itself in avoided future service calls.