2026-03-21 7 min read
If you've ever walked into your garage on a bitter January morning, pressed the button, and heard a loud bang followed by absolutely nothing. you've probably just met a broken torsion spring. It's one of the most common calls we get here in Stow, and it's almost never a surprise to us, even if it is to the homeowner. The warning signs were almost always there weeks or months earlier.
Stow sits about 21 miles west of Boston in a climate that is no friend to metal hardware. Temperatures here regularly swing from single digits in January to the low 80s in July, and that constant expansion and contraction quietly destroys garage door springs from the inside out. Neighboring towns like Acton and Concord deal with the same punishment. The good news is that failing springs almost always telegraph their problems before they snap completely. if you know what to look for.
Garage door springs are responsible for doing the heavy lifting. literally. Most residential garage doors weigh between 150 and 300 pounds, and the springs counterbalance that weight so your opener motor doesn't burn out trying to drag it open. When the springs weaken, that load shifts to everything else in the system.
In Massachusetts, the problem is compounded by our weather. Sharp winter temperature shifts cause steel coils to stiffen and contract under pressure, and that's precisely when breaks are most likely to occur. A spring that's been gradually weakening all fall often gives out on the coldest morning of the year. That's not bad luck. it's physics.
Most springs are rated for 10,000 cycles on torsion systems (the horizontal spring above your door) or somewhat fewer on extension systems (the springs that run along the sides on older doors). For a household that uses the garage door four times a day, that's roughly seven years of life under ideal conditions. Stow's climate is not ideal conditions.
This is often the first sign homeowners notice. If your garage door suddenly feels unusually heavy or difficult to lift. even with the opener engaged. the springs may no longer be doing their job. Springs are designed to carry most of the door's weight. When they weaken or break, that load shifts entirely to the opener motor or to your manual effort. Don't keep forcing it. Continued use puts excessive strain on the opener and increases the risk of sudden failure.
Your garage door should hold its position when raised. If it begins to slowly drift downward or won't stay up at all, that's a strong indication the springs have lost tension. A door that drops unexpectedly is a serious crush hazard, especially for children or pets who might be walking underneath. This one warrants an immediate call to a professional.
With the door closed, take a safe look at the torsion spring above the door opening. If you notice a gap of about 2 inches or more in the coil, the spring has snapped. This is unambiguous. a broken spring isn't capable of supporting the door and needs to be replaced before you operate the door again. Do not touch the spring itself; even a broken spring stores significant residual tension.
A balanced door should travel up and down in a smooth, consistent motion. If it looks crooked while moving, rises unevenly, or seems to jerk or hesitate partway through the cycle, one spring may be weaker or broken than the other. That uneven tension forces the tracks, rollers, cables, and opener to compensate. and each of those components starts accumulating damage as a result. Left unaddressed, you can turn a spring replacement into a much more expensive repair. Our post on understanding your door's balance explains exactly how this stress cascades through the system.
If the opener seems to strain, makes unusual sounds, or stops before the door is fully opened or closed, your springs may not be providing enough support. Garage door openers are not designed to lift a door's full weight. they're designed to assist a spring-balanced door. When the springs fail, the opener tries to compensate and will eventually burn out. Catching this early can save you from replacing both the springs and the opener at the same time.
Here's a safe way to check your spring health without touching anything dangerous. Close your garage door completely, then pull the emergency release cord to disconnect it from the opener. Try to manually lift the door about halfway and let go. A properly balanced door should stay put. or drift only slightly. If it falls back down immediately, the springs are not doing their job. If it feels like you're lifting deadweight, same story. Take a look at our services page to see what a professional spring inspection covers.
Spring failure is one of those repairs that's almost always cheaper and more convenient when addressed proactively. A planned replacement during a scheduled appointment is much less disruptive than an emergency call when your car is stuck inside the garage and you're already late for work. If your springs are between seven and nine years old, or if you're seeing any of the warning signs above, it's worth getting an inspection before the next nor'easter rolls through.
Replacing garage door springs is not a DIY job. Springs are under enormous tension, and improper handling can cause serious injury. The Colonial and Cape Cod-style homes throughout Stow often have heavier solid-wood or steel doors that require precisely rated springs. getting the wrong spring installed damages the opener and shortens the life of everything it's connected to. This is a job for trained technicians with the right tools.
At Stow Garage Doors, we inspect the entire spring system, cables, and hardware as part of every spring service call. because when one component reaches the end of its life, the rest of the system is usually close behind.
Q: How long should garage door springs last in Stow, MA? A: Under average use, most springs are rated for around 10,000 cycles on torsion systems. roughly seven to nine years for a typical household. However, Stow's significant seasonal temperature swings can shorten that lifespan, especially if the springs aren't lubricated regularly. If your springs are approaching that age, schedule an inspection before they fail.
Q: Can I still use my garage door if I think a spring is broken? A: No. If you suspect a spring has snapped. especially if you heard a loud bang or the door suddenly feels extremely heavy. stop using the door immediately. Operating a door with a broken spring puts dangerous strain on the opener motor, cables, and tracks, and risks the door dropping unexpectedly. Call a professional for same-day service.
Q: Should I replace both springs even if only one broke? A: In most cases, yes. If both springs were installed at the same time, the second one is usually close to the same age and wear level as the one that broke. Replacing both at once saves you a second service call in the near future and ensures the door operates with balanced tension on both sides.