2026-04-09 7 min read
If you've ever walked into your garage one morning, hit the button, and watched the opener motor groan while the door barely budged. or heard a loud bang from the garage that startled the whole house. there's a good chance you're dealing with a broken garage door spring. It's one of the most common calls we get here in Rockingham, and it happens more often than most homeowners expect.
Rockingham sits in the south-central North Carolina Piedmont, and the climate here puts real stress on garage door hardware. Summers are hot and muggy, winters bring freezing rain and overnight lows that dip into the mid-20s, and the humidity hangs around year-round. That combination of heat, cold, and moisture is hard on metal springs. and it's a big reason why spring failures are so frequent in this area.
Most people don't think about their garage door springs until something goes wrong. Here's the quick version: springs counterbalance the weight of your door, making it light enough for the opener motor (or your arm) to lift. Without functioning springs, a standard residential garage door can weigh 150 to over 300 pounds. far too heavy for the opener to handle safely.
There are two main types:
- Torsion springs. mounted horizontally above the door opening, wound around a metal bar. These are the most common on newer homes in neighborhoods like Weatherstone and newer builds along the US-74 corridor. - Extension springs. found on either side of the door tracks, more common on older ranch-style homes and bungalows that make up a large portion of Rockingham's housing stock, much of which was built between the 1940s and 1960s.
Torsion springs are generally safer and last longer. Extension springs can snap with significant force when they break, making them a hazard if ignored.
Don't wait for a full break. Here's what to watch for:
Disconnect the opener and try lifting the door manually. A properly balanced door should feel like lifting about 10,15 pounds. If it feels like deadweight, the springs are likely losing tension.
Lift the door to waist height and let go. It should hold its position. If it drifts back down, the springs can't maintain proper counterbalance.
For torsion springs, healthy coils sit tight against each other. If you can see a gap. even a small one. the spring has partially or fully broken.
A broken torsion spring sounds like a gunshot. If you hear this, stop using the door immediately. Running the opener against a broken spring can burn out the motor.
These can signal springs that are corroding or losing tension. especially common in Rockingham's humid summers. Rust weakens the metal over time and accelerates failure.
If you're also noticing your rollers looking worn or your door moving unevenly, it may be worth checking out our complete guide to roller replacement alongside any spring inspection.
Look above your door. If there's a long metal bar with one or two coiled springs wound around it, you have a torsion system. If there are springs running along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door, those are extension springs.
For older homes in areas like East Rockingham, Glenwood, or Knob Hill. many of which were built in the postwar era. extension springs are fairly common. Homeowners in newer subdivisions and developments closer to Hamlet or out toward Aberdeen are more likely to have torsion systems.
Here's an honest look at what you can expect to pay:
- Torsion spring replacement: $150,$350 per spring, parts and labor included - Extension spring replacement: $120,$200 per spring - Full system (both springs + cables): $200,$500 depending on door size and spring type
A few things affect the final price: the weight and size of your door, whether you have a single or double car garage, and whether the tech finds any other worn components during the visit. cables, drums, or a strained opener motor.
One piece of advice worth heeding: replace both springs at the same time, even if only one has broken. The two springs age at the same rate, and the second one typically follows within a few months of the first. Replacing both now saves you another service call shortly after.
For more context on how spring replacement fits into overall garage door costs, see our post on budget-friendly garage door options. it breaks down where you can save and where it's worth spending.
We're going to be straight with you: this is not a DIY job for most homeowners. Garage door springs store an enormous amount of tension. enough to cause serious injury if a spring slips during winding or unwinds suddenly. Professional technicians use calibrated winding bars and safety equipment specifically designed for this work.
The money you might save on labor is not worth the risk. This is one of those cases where calling a pro is simply the right call. for your safety and to protect your opener and door panels from additional damage.
If you're ready to have your springs inspected or replaced, contact Rockingham Garage Doors to schedule a visit. We serve Rockingham, Hamlet, Laurinburg, and the surrounding Richmond County area.
Most standard springs are rated for 10,000 cycles. one cycle being one full open-and-close. For a household that uses the garage door four times a day, that works out to roughly 7,10 years. Rockingham's humidity and temperature swings can shorten that lifespan if springs aren't lubricated annually.
Both, almost always. The two springs in a double-spring system wear at the same rate. If one breaks, the other is likely close behind. Replacing both during one service visit is more cost-effective and prevents a second failure within months.
No. and you shouldn't try. Running your opener against a broken spring can burn out the motor and potentially damage the door panels. If you suspect a broken spring, manually operate the door with caution (using the release cord) and call for service right away. See our services page to learn what a full spring replacement visit includes.