When Your Garage Door Suddenly Won't Lift
Broken Spring Repair in Fort Collins for doors that feel extremely heavy or stop opening completely
Spencer Brothers Garage Doors provides broken spring repair for residential garage doors in Fort Collins when the door refuses to open or becomes too heavy to lift manually after a spring fails. Garage door springs support the majority of the door's weight, and when one breaks, you will usually hear a loud snap followed by the door slamming down or refusing to move even when the opener is activated. Spring failure is one of the most common garage door problems, and because the springs are under extreme tension, attempting to replace them without the proper tools and training creates serious safety risks.
Torsion springs, which are mounted on a shaft above the door, and extension springs, which run along the horizontal tracks, both wear out over time due to the repeated stress of lifting and lowering the door. Cold weather in Fort Collins can accelerate spring fatigue, causing brittle metal to snap during winter months when the door is used frequently. Professional replacement involves securing the door to prevent it from falling, releasing the tension from the broken spring using winding bars, removing the damaged spring from the shaft or track, and installing a new spring calibrated to the door's weight and height.
If your garage door has stopped opening or you heard a loud bang and now the door won't stay up, contact us to schedule a spring replacement before attempting to use the door further.
Why Immediate Spring Replacement Prevents Additional Damage
When a spring breaks, continuing to operate the door with the opener motor forces the motor to carry the full weight of the door, which it is not designed to handle. This can burn out the motor, strip the gears inside the opener, or cause the door to fall unexpectedly and damage vehicles or injure someone in the path of the closing door. Spencer Brothers Garage Doors responds quickly to spring failures because delaying the repair increases the likelihood of secondary damage that turns a straightforward spring replacement into a more expensive repair involving the opener or door panels.
After we install new springs and restore proper tension, the door will lift smoothly again with minimal effort, and the opener will operate without strain. You will notice that the door stays in place when you lift it halfway and release it, which indicates that the springs are correctly balanced. The door will open and close at a consistent speed without jerking or hesitating, and the opener will run quietly without laboring under excessive load.
We measure the door dimensions and weight to determine the correct spring size and wind count, then install springs rated for the expected cycle life based on how frequently you use the door. The replacement process also includes inspecting the cables, rollers, and tracks for wear that may have resulted from operating the door with a broken spring. We do not install springs on doors with severely damaged panels, bent tracks, or compromised structural framing that must be addressed separately.
Common Questions About Spring Failures and Replacement
Homeowners throughout Fort Collins often want to understand why springs break and what to expect during the replacement process, especially if the failure happened suddenly.
What causes garage door springs to break?
Springs fail due to metal fatigue after thousands of lifting cycles, and cold temperatures in Fort Collins can make the steel more brittle and prone to snapping during winter use.
How long does spring replacement take?
Most spring replacements are completed within one to two hours, including removing the broken spring, installing the new spring, adjusting the tension, and testing the door for balanced operation.
When should I replace both springs even if only one broke?
If your door uses two torsion springs and one has broken, the second spring is likely near the end of its lifespan as well, so replacing both at the same time prevents a second failure within weeks or months.
Why is it dangerous to replace springs myself?
Torsion springs are under hundreds of pounds of tension, and releasing that tension improperly can cause the winding bar to slip and strike you with enough force to cause serious injury or death.
What will I notice after the springs are replaced?
The door will lift easily with one hand when you disengage the opener, it will stay in place when partially raised, and the opener will run smoothly without grinding or hesitating.
If you need broken spring repair in Fort Collins, Spencer Brothers Garage Doors can restore safe and reliable operation to your garage door. Reach out as soon as you notice the door has stopped working or if you suspect a spring has failed.