What Torsion Springs Actually Do
Your garage door weighs anywhere from 150 to 400+ pounds depending on size and material. Torsion springs are wound tightly above the door on a steel shaft, storing mechanical energy. When the door opens, they release that energy to counterbalance the weight. A properly balanced door should feel like 8–10 pounds when lifted by hand. If it feels like dead weight, your springs are the first suspect.
Most modern residential doors use a single torsion spring mounted above the opening. Larger and heavier doors use two springs for redundancy and better balance.
How to Know Your Spring Is Failing
Loud Bang from the Garage
The most dramatic symptom. A spring breaking under tension releases tremendous stored energy — the sound is unmistakable, like a gunshot. If you heard a loud bang from your garage and the door won’t open, this is almost certainly it. Do not try to operate the door.
Door Won’t Open (or Barely Opens)
Opener motors have auto-reverse safety features that kick in when resistance is too high. With a broken spring, the door is full dead weight — the motor gives up or strains badly. Don’t force it.
Visible Gap in the Spring
Look at the horizontal spring above your door from inside the garage. A broken torsion spring has a visible 2–4 inch gap where the coil separated. If you see a gap, the spring is broken.
Door Feels Extremely Heavy
With the opener disconnected (pull the red emergency cord), a healthy door lifts with one hand. If it takes both hands and real effort — or won’t stay at mid-height when released — spring tension is failing. Get it checked before the other spring goes.
Why This Is Not a DIY Job
Torsion springs are under extreme mechanical tension — hundreds of foot-pounds of torque. A spring that slips during winding or removal can cause severe injury instantly. The tools required (winding bars, correct technique) and the knowledge of how to size, wind, and balance springs come from training and repetition — not YouTube. This is one of the most dangerous repairs in residential home maintenance, and that’s not an exaggeration.
Do not attempt to operate a door with a broken spring. The cables and drums are also under tension and can fail without warning when the spring is compromised.
Our Spring Replacement Process
Full Torsion System Inspection
Cables, drums, bearings, end plates, center bearing, and shaft — all inspected before we wind a single turn. Replacing a spring on a system with fraying cables is doing half a job.
Correct Spring Sizing
Springs are sized by wire diameter, inside diameter, and length — matched to your door’s exact weight. An incorrectly sized spring either won’t last or won’t balance properly. We measure first, then source the right spring.
Pair Replacement
If one spring broke, the other is the same age with the same cycle count. Replacing only the broken one typically means a second service call within weeks. We’ll give you the honest cost/benefit of doing both — the decision is yours.
Cycle Life Upgrades Available
Standard springs are rated ~10,000 cycles (one open + one close = one cycle). If your household cycles the door 4–6 times daily, that’s 5–7 years. High-cycle springs (20,000 cycles) and powder-coated springs (30,000+ cycles) are available at modest upcharges — worth it on high-use doors.
What Spring Replacement Costs
Every door is different — pricing depends on door size, spring count, and cycle-life grade. Use the estimate tool below for an itemized quote specific to your door.
Single-Car Door — Standard Springs
10,000-cycle spring(s), parts & labor. Most common repair call we get.
Double-Car Door — Standard Springs
Two-spring system or single large spring sized for a heavier door.
High-Cycle Upgrade (20,000 cycles)
For high-use households. Roughly doubles the service life of your springs.
Powder-Coated Springs (30,000+ cycles)
Best available. Rust-resistant, longest service life — ideal for humid garages and high-use doors.
All prices include parts and labor. Service call fee waived with completed repair.
Get a Transparent, Upfront Price Before Anyone Knocks
Our online diagnostic walks you through your issue step by step and generates an itemized estimate — no phone call, no pressure, no guessing. An educated customer is a happy customer.
Serving Charlottesville & Central Virginia
Grossmann Garage Door serves customers within 50 miles of Charlottesville — covering Albemarle, Augusta, Rockingham, Madison, Greene, Orange, Louisa, Fluvanna, Nelson, and Buckingham counties as well as the independent cities of Waynesboro, Staunton, and Harrisonburg.
Communities we regularly serve: Crozet, Scottsville, Gordonsville, Elkton, Stanardsville, Ruckersville, Barboursville, Orange, Louisa, Mineral, Palmyra, Lovingston, Nellysford, Stuarts Draft, Fishersville, Verona, Bridgewater, Dayton, Grottoes, Weyers Cave, Culpeper, Madison, and more. If you’re within roughly 50 miles of downtown Charlottesville, we’ll come to you.