2026-08-14 7 min read A2Z Garage Doors
Most people don't think about their garage door until it stops working. Then a snapped spring brings everything to a halt. If your door won't open, won't close smoothly, or makes a loud bang followed by nothing, you likely have a broken torsion or extension spring. The good news: it's fixable. The bad news: this isn't a DIY job, and waiting only gets more expensive.
Garage door springs carry roughly half the weight of your door. A typical residential door weighs 300 to 400 pounds. Springs are under constant tension, coiled and compressed to counterbalance that load. Over time, metal fatigues. After 7 to 9 years of daily opening and closing, springs wear out.
A snapped spring makes itself known. You'll hear a sharp crack or bang from the garage. The door becomes nearly impossible to open by hand. If your opener tries to force it, you'll hear grinding or clicking but no movement. Some people see the broken coil hanging loose near the center of the door.
Most homes in Redwood City and the Peninsula use torsion springs. These sit horizontally above the door, wrapped around a metal rod. When one breaks, the entire system fails because the springs work as a pair.
Extension springs run along the sides of the opening. They stretch and contract as the door moves. A snapped extension spring is equally problematic, though sometimes one can fail while the other keeps limping along temporarily.
Both types require professional replacement. Even if only one is broken, we always replace both. An old spring on the other side will fail within weeks once its partner goes down, leaving you stranded twice.
I've seen homeowners try. They end up injured. Springs under tension can snap unexpectedly, sending metal coils across the garage at high speed. They can slice fingers or worse.
Professional technicians have proper tools: spring winders, safety cables, and years of training. We can diagnose whether your opener needs adjustment after spring replacement. We check for bent tracks or other damage that a snapped spring sometimes causes. This is genuinely specialized work.
If you're curious about overall maintenance and what signs to watch for, read our guide to warning signs you need garage door repair.
**Need garage door springs in Redwood City today?** Call (626) 507-4779. we cover same-day service across the area.
Spring replacement typically runs $200 to $400 per spring, sometimes more if your door is oversized or uses commercial-grade springs. Labor usually takes 1 to 2 hours. Visit our detailed pricing breakdown to understand what affects your estimate.
Most Redwood City customers qualify for same-day or next-day service. We stock the most common spring sizes. If your door uses an unusual spec, we'll order the right part and schedule you promptly.
The cost feels steep until you consider the alternative: a non-functioning garage door. In a place like Redwood City where parking is tight and weather stays mild, a stuck door disrupts your routine fast.
A technician arrives with a van stocked with springs, tools, and safety gear. We'll disconnect your opener to prevent accidents. The broken spring comes off, debris is cleared, and new springs go on with precise tension. We'll test the door manually and with the opener. We also inspect the cables, tracks, and opener for any collateral damage from the failure.
Before we leave, you get a walk-through of what we found and what we fixed. No surprises. No hidden fees.
Regular maintenance helps. A tune-up every year includes lubricating the spring, checking cable tension, and identifying early wear. Springs don't last forever, but good care pushes them closer to their full 7 to 9 year lifespan.
If your door is over 8 years old and works fine, consider a preventive spring replacement. Yes, it costs money now. But it beats the emergency repair at midnight when your door stops working before a family trip. Learn more about maintenance to keep your door healthy.
You can also review our full services page to see everything we offer.
Don't try to force the door open with the opener. Don't attempt a DIY fix. Call Garage Door Redwood City at (626) 507-4779 for a free estimate. We'll tell you exactly what's broken, what it costs, and when we can fix it.
A snapped spring is frustrating, but it's also one of the most common repairs we handle. You're not alone, and it's fixable fast. Schedule a free quote today and get your door back in action.
Can I open my garage door if a spring is snapped? Not safely. A broken spring removes the counterbalance. Your opener strains trying to lift the full weight, risking motor damage. Even manually, the door is too heavy. Leave it closed until the spring is replaced.
How long does spring replacement take? Typically 1 to 2 hours. We disconnect the opener, remove the old springs, install new ones, and test everything. Same-day service is often available for Redwood City customers.
Do I need to replace both springs if only one broke? Yes. Springs work in pairs and age together. Replacing only the broken one means the other fails soon after, costing you a second service call. We always recommend replacing both simultaneously.
How much does a snapped spring cost to fix? Expect $200 to $400 per spring plus labor. Your exact price depends on spring type, door size, and any additional repairs needed. Call (626) 507-4779 for a no-obligation estimate.
Is spring replacement covered by homeowners insurance? Rarely. Springs are wear-and-tear items. Some policies cover damage caused by springs, like bent tracks, but the springs themselves usually fall on you. Check your policy or ask us during your estimate call.