Garage door spring replacement in Alameda
A torsion spring does the lifting. The opener only guides the door. When a spring breaks the door becomes its full dead weight, often 150 pounds or more, and the opener can't raise it. That's why a door with a broken spring won't budge no matter how many times you press the button.
From $195 typical range $195 to $355
Call (510) 694-8090How to tell a spring has gone
You usually hear it go. A snapped torsion spring makes a bang loud enough that people think something fell off a shelf. After that the door won't lift, or the opener strains, moves it a few inches and stops. Look at the shaft above the door. A broken spring leaves a clear gap of two or three inches where the coil separated.
Why we replace springs in pairs
On a two-spring door both springs have done the same number of cycles. When one goes the other is at the end of its life too. Replace only the broken one and you're usually paying for a second call, and a second hour of labor, inside a year. Doing both at once costs less than doing it twice.
Cycle life, and what it means for your door
Springs are rated in cycles. One cycle is one open and one close. A standard spring is rated around 10,000 cycles. A house that opens the door four times a day works through about 1,500 cycles a year, so a standard spring gets you somewhere near seven years. High-cycle springs are rated a lot higher and cost a little more. On the door you use as your front door, they're worth it.
Why this isn't a DIY job
A wound torsion spring holds a lot of stored energy and it releases all at once. Unwinding one takes proper winding bars, which are a specific tool and not a pair of screwdrivers. This is the one garage door repair we'd tell anyone to leave alone.
Spring replacement in Alameda, usually same day
You get the price before we drive out, and someone picks up whatever time you call.
Questions we get asked
- How much does spring replacement cost?
- From $195 for a single torsion spring installed, from $330 for both. It's about an hour of work, and you get the price before we touch anything.
- How long does it take?
- About an hour on a standard residential door. We carry the common spring sizes on the truck, so most jobs are done on the first visit.
- Do you warranty the springs?
- Yes. Lifetime warranty on every spring we install.
- Can I still open the door by hand?
- Not safely, no. With the spring broken the door is carrying its own full weight. If it's stuck part way, leave it where it is and call. Don't stand under it.