You heard a loud bang from the garage. Now your door won't open. Or it opens about 6 inches and stops. You looked up and saw a metal spring above the door with a visible gap in it. Welcome to the broken garage door spring club -- about 1 in 8 garage doors will have this happen each year.
Here's exactly what to do, in order:
1. STOP Trying to Open the Door
Every time you hit that button, you're stressing the opener motor and the remaining hardware. The opener wasn't designed to lift a garage door without spring assistance -- that door weighs 150 to 350+ pounds. You can damage the opener (a $650+ fix) trying to force it up.
2. Don't Try to Manually Lift It Either
Without spring support, that door is HEAVY. Like, throw-out-your-back heavy. And if you do manage to lift it partially and it slips, you can lose fingers in the tracks. Not worth it.
3. Don't Park Your Car Inside
If your car is in the garage, leave it. Don't try to get it out by forcing the door. Wait for the technician.
4. Call a Professional
Garage door springs store hundreds of pounds of tension. They've killed and seriously injured DIY-ers. Even YouTube tutorials gloss over the danger. This is not a fix-it-yourself project.
Call TrueSafe Garage Door Repair at 469-238-1831. We carry the most common spring sizes on our truck and can usually be at your home in Garland within a few hours. The repair takes 30-60 minutes.
What It'll Cost
Spring replacement in Garland, TX runs $289--$389 including parts, labor, and a warranty. We'll give you a written estimate before starting any work.
If You Have Two Springs, Replace Both
If one of your two springs broke, the other one is the same age and has been carrying double the load. It will fail soon -- usually within months. Most reputable companies (us included) recommend replacing both at the same time. The marginal cost is small and you avoid a second service call.
Why Did It Break?
Garage door springs are rated for cycles, not years. A standard spring is rated for about 10,000 cycles (one cycle = one open + close). If you use your garage door 4 times a day, that's about 7 years. Heavier use, you'll get less. Texas heat and cold also accelerate spring fatigue.
How to Make the New Springs Last Longer
- Lubricate the springs with white lithium grease twice a year
- Avoid slamming the door
- If you're a heavy user, ask about high-cycle springs (rated for 25,000+ cycles)
- Get an annual tune-up -- we catch wear before it becomes a failure
Call 469-238-1831 if you're in Garland or surrounding areas. Same-day service, free estimate, and we'll have your door working before you go to bed tonight.