Broken Garage Door Spring? Houston Repair
A broken spring is the most common reason a garage door won't open – and the most dangerous to fix yourself. We replace torsion and extension springs safely, with the right parts, same day when available.
Garage Door Springs Are Under Extreme Tension
Spring replacement is the single most dangerous garage door repair to attempt yourself. A torsion spring stores enough energy to cause serious injury, and a slip with winding bars can be catastrophic. This is not a DIY job unless you're trained and have the correct tools. Don't operate the door with a broken spring, and leave the spring work to a professional. Contact us for a service quote.
Why a Broken Spring Stops Your Door
Your garage door weighs far more than the opener can lift on its own – often 150 to 350 pounds. The springs do the real work, counterbalancing that weight so the door rises easily and the opener just guides it. When a spring breaks, that counterbalance is gone: the door becomes dead weight, the opener strains and can't lift it, and the door is stuck closed (or, if it was open, can come down hard). That's why a broken spring is the number-one cause of a garage door that suddenly won't open.
Preferred Doors LLC is a family-owned company – in business since 1995, serving Houston since 2010, with 30+ years in the garage door industry. We replace both torsion and extension springs, size them correctly to your door, and balance the door so the repair lasts. We also service automatic gates – same trained crew, same trucks.
Torsion vs. Extension Springs
Not sure which type you have? Here's how to tell – and we replace both:
Torsion Springs
Mounted on a metal shaft above the door, parallel to the top of the opening. They wind and unwind to raise and lower the door. Most modern doors use torsion springs – they're more durable, safer, and give smoother, more balanced operation.
You have torsion if: there's a spring (or two) on a shaft above the door opening.
Extension Springs
Long springs mounted along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door, that stretch and contract as the door moves. Common on older and lighter doors. They work, but torsion systems are generally safer and longer-lasting.
You have extension if: there are long springs running along the tracks on both sides.
If your door uses extension springs, ask us about converting to a torsion system – often a worthwhile upgrade for safety and longevity. We also handle TorqueMaster conversions.
Why Garage Door Springs Break
Normal Wear (Cycle Life)
Springs are rated in cycles – one open and close is one cycle. A standard spring is rated around 10,000 cycles, roughly 7–10 years of normal use. Eventually metal fatigue wins and the spring snaps. This is the most common cause.
Rust and Houston Humidity
Houston's humidity corrodes spring coils over time, weakening the metal and increasing friction between coils. Rust shortens spring life and is a big reason springs here can fail sooner than the rated cycles.
Wrong-Sized Springs
If a previous installer used springs that don't match the door's weight, they wear out fast and fail early. We size springs correctly to your door's actual weight and dimensions so they last.
Lack of Maintenance
Springs that are never lubricated wear faster from coil friction. Periodic maintenance extends spring life and catches wear before a sudden failure.
Signs of a Broken Spring
- ✓A loud bang from the garage (the spring snapping)
- ✓Door won't open, or opener strains and stops
- ✓Door opens only a few inches then stops
- ✓A visible gap in the torsion spring above the door
- ✓Door feels extremely heavy lifting by hand
- ✓Door slams shut or comes down fast
How We Replace Your Springs
Replace in Pairs
If you have two springs and one broke, the other is the same age and will fail soon. We replace both so the door stays balanced and you avoid a second service call.
Sized to Your Door
We measure your door and match the spring's wire size, diameter, and length to its actual weight – so the springs carry the load correctly and reach their full cycle life.
Balance & Test
After installing, we set the spring tension, balance the door, check the cables and rollers, and test a full cycle so it runs smooth and safe.
Ask About Our Lifetime Warranty Springs
Tired of replacing springs every several years? We offer lifetime warranty torsion springs – a longer-life upgrade backed by warranty, so you may never pay for a spring again. Worth asking about when we're out.
See Lifetime Warranty Springs →Shop Springs & Hardware Online
Trained and equipped to do it safely yourself? Shop torsion and extension springs, winding bars, and hardware in our online store.
Shop Now →Broken Spring FAQ
Can I open my garage door with a broken spring?
You shouldn't. Without the spring's counterbalance the door is dead weight – forcing the opener can burn out the motor, and lifting by hand is dangerous because the door can drop. Leave it closed and call us.
Why replace both springs if only one broke?
On a two-spring door, both springs have the same age and cycle wear. When one breaks the other is close behind, so replacing both keeps the door balanced and saves you a second repair bill within months.
Should I replace a broken spring myself?
We strongly advise against it unless you're trained. Garage door springs hold tremendous tension, and torsion spring winding is the most dangerous garage door task there is – a slip can cause serious injury. It's the repair we most recommend leaving to a professional.
How long do garage door springs last?
A standard spring is rated around 10,000 cycles – roughly 7 to 10 years of typical use. Houston humidity and heavy daily use can shorten that. Higher-cycle and lifetime-warranty springs last considerably longer.
Do you service my area?
We serve the greater Houston area, including Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land, Richmond, the Energy Corridor, and the surrounding communities. Call 281-579-8400 and we'll confirm scheduling.
Broken Spring? Don't Force the Door – Call Us.
We replace torsion and extension springs safely, sized right, and balance the door so it lasts. Family-owned since 1995, serving Houston since 2010. Same day when available.