Spring repair & replacement
Broken garage door spring? That bang was the giveaway.
One loud bang from the garage, then a door that feels like it weighs a ton - that's a torsion spring letting go. It's the most common garage door failure in Athens County, and one of the quickest to put right.
How you know it's the spring
- You heard a single sharp bang from the garage - like a firecracker or a car backfire
- The opener strains, lifts the door a few inches, then gives up or reverses
- The door feels impossibly heavy when you pull the red release cord and lift by hand
- There's a visible gap in the coiled spring above the door - a healthy spring is one continuous coil
- The door hangs crooked, or the lift cables have gone slack or popped off
Two or more of those and it's near-certain. Call (740) 274-4235, describe what you're seeing, and we'll confirm it - and quote it - before you decide anything.
Why this isn't a DIY job
A wound torsion spring stores the energy it takes to lift a 150-pound door. Released wrong, that energy goes into whatever is nearest - winding bars fly, knuckles break. It's the one garage door repair where the pros' insurance premiums are earned. Our technicians carry the right winding bars, measure your door's weight and track, and match the spring to it - an undersized replacement is why some "fixed" doors fail again within a year.
Cables, drums, and bearings too
Springs rarely fail alone. Frayed lift cables, worn center bearings, and seized drums show up on the same visit - we inspect all of it, and anything extra goes on the written estimate for your yes or no before it's touched. One spring approved, one spring billed.
Straight answers
Spring questions, answered plainly
How much does it cost to fix a garage door spring?
In the Athens area a torsion spring replacement typically runs $180-$350 for one spring or $250-$450 for a pair, parts and labor included. Extension springs run a bit less. The exact number depends on the spring size your door needs - and you get it in writing before we start.
Can you replace just one spring on a garage door?
Mechanically yes, and if your door has a single spring that's the job. On two-spring doors we'll tell you the honest trade-off: springs wear by cycles, so the second one is usually near the end of its life too, and doing both in one visit saves a second trip charge. Your call either way - we bill for exactly what you approve.
What is the life expectancy of a garage door torsion spring?
Standard springs are rated around 10,000 open-close cycles - roughly 7-10 years for most households, faster if the garage is your front door. Cold snaps are when they let go; southeast Ohio winters crack more springs than any other season. Higher-cycle springs are available and we'll price both options.
Can you manually raise a garage door with a broken spring?
A single-car door, maybe, with two people - but a double door weighs 150-250 pounds without its counterbalance and can slam back down. If you must get a car out, lift only with help and prop the door with locking pliers on the track. Better: call us, describe it, and we'll walk you through it safely.
Full price ranges for every repair live on the cost guide.
Written estimates
Get your spring quoted in writing
Describe what your door is doing and we'll come back with what it likely is, what fixing it involves, and a written estimate. Rather talk it through? (740) 274-4235.
- Estimate in writing before any work starts - always
- Itemized invoice showing exactly what you paid for
- Cards accepted; no cash-only surprises