Garage door springs do all the real lifting — the opener just guides the door, the springs counterbalance the heavy panel above your car. When a spring breaks, the opener can't lift the door, the cables suddenly carry the load, and the whole system becomes unsafe. This is one of the most common calls we run in Ottawa, especially in January and February. If your spring just snapped and the door is stuck, see our emergency garage door repair page for what to do right now.
Signs of a broken or failing spring
- Loud BANG from the garage (sounds like a gunshot or firecracker)
- Door feels impossibly heavy when you try to lift it manually
- Visible gap between the coils of the torsion spring above the door
- Opener strains, hums, or just clicks but doesn't lift
- Door opens 6 inches and stops
- Door slams shut faster than normal
- Cables hanging loose after a spring failure
Never try to wind or replace a torsion spring yourself. A loaded spring stores 200+ pounds of torque on a 1-inch shaft. Without the proper winding bars (and knowing how to use them), a spring will absolutely break wrists, fingers, and teeth. This is the most dangerous DIY repair on a residential garage door. Please just call us.
Torsion vs. extension springs
Most Ottawa homes built in the last 25 years have torsion springs — the long springs mounted horizontally on a shaft above the door. They're safer, last longer, and balance the door more evenly than the older extension springs (the long springs running parallel to the tracks on either side). If your home still has extension springs, we can quote a conversion to torsion at the same time — it's a worthwhile upgrade if the budget allows.
Why we recommend replacing springs in pairs
Both torsion springs on your door were installed the same day, cycled the same number of times, and exposed to the same winters. When one breaks, the other has used up much of its useful life. Replacing only the broken spring often means a second service call within months. We generally recommend doing both at once, with a wider garage door repair check of the cables, rollers, and balance at the same visit.
What "high-cycle" means and why it matters
Standard residential springs are typically rated for around 10,000 cycles (one cycle = one open + close). At a few cycles per day that's roughly seven years. High-cycle springs are rated for roughly twice as many cycles and tend to hold up better in Ottawa winters. If your garage door sees heavy daily use, the upgrade is worth asking about as part of a fresh spring installation.
How a spring replacement works
- Secure the doorVise grips on the tracks lock the door in the down position so no one stands under a loaded door.
- Measure and matchWe measure wire diameter, inside diameter, and length of your existing springs (or the door's weight if both have failed).
- Install new springsNew springs installed on the torsion shaft with proper cone-to-shaft engagement.
- Wind to specUsing winding bars and a torque wrench — the right number of quarter-turns for your door's weight.
- Balance test and lubricateA properly balanced door stays at half-height on its own. We adjust until it does, lubricate the hinges and rollers, and cycle-test.
What a broken spring actually looks like
If you're not sure whether your spring is the problem, these are the kinds of failures we see most. A snapped torsion spring shows a clear gap between the coils (top photo), or you may find pieces of it on the garage floor under the door (bottom photo). If yours looks like either of these, stop using the door and give us a call.
