Garage Door Spring Repair in Cardiff-by-the-Sea
One loud snap and the door weighs a ton. Keep it closed and let us handle the springs.
Exact price settled before work · We pick up 24/7
Garage door spring repair is the replacement of a broken or worn spring, the part that counters the weight of the door so it can be lifted by hand or by the opener. You need it after a loud bang from the garage, when the door feels very heavy, or when it rises crooked or only a few inches.
It is a job for trained hands. The springs hold back most of the weight of the door. When one snaps, that weight lands on the opener and on anyone who tries to lift it. Manzanita fits new springs matched to your door, sets the tension and runs a balance test before we call it done.
Signs You Need Spring Repair
- You heard a bang from the garage, often when nobody was using the door.
- The torsion spring above the door shows a clear gap.
- The opener strains, and the door rises only a few inches.
- Cables look slack on one or both sides.
- The door drops the last foot or two and lands hard instead of settling.
- Lifted by hand to waist height, the door will not stay put.
- The coils are flaking with rust or squeal each time the door moves.
Stay away from the springs and the bottom brackets. Both hold dangerous tension.
How We Do Garage Door Spring Repair
- Secure the door. The door stays down and is clamped in place before any tension is let off or wound on.
- Size the new spring. We read the wire size, inside diameter, length and wind of the old spring and note the size and build of the door, so the new one fits the load.
- Fit the springs. On a torsion system both springs are normally changed together so they wear evenly. Extension springs get their safety cables checked or added.
- Set tension and balance. The springs are wound to the right number of turns. Then we lift the door to waist height and let go, and it should hold still.
- Check the rest and test. Cables, drums, bearings and rollers are looked over, the opener force is reset, and the door runs full cycles. Rollers knocked out of line would need track repair.
Parts and Options
Torsion springs sit on a bar above the door and twist as it closes. They give smooth, even lift and are the common setup on sectional doors. A heavy or tall door may use two springs on the bar. Extension springs run along the upper tracks on each side and stretch as the door comes down. Each one should have a safety cable through its center, so a broken spring cannot whip across the garage. We replace whichever type your door uses and match the size to the door weight.
Springs also differ in finish and life. Plain oil-tempered steel is the standard. Galvanized and coated springs cost a little more and hold up better against rust, which counts near the beach. Every spring is rated in cycles, where one cycle is one opening and one closing. If the garage is the door your family uses all day, a higher-cycle spring is worth asking about.
Safety
A wound torsion spring holds enough force to break bones. Do not loosen the set screws on the winding cones, do not pull on the lift cables, and do not try to lift a door with a broken spring. Keep cars, kids and pets out from under a door that will not stay up. If the door is stuck open, leave it there and call; running the opener can strip its gear or drop the door.
One Spring or Both?
When one torsion spring of a pair breaks, the other has done the same number of cycles and is often close behind. Damp beach air can rust coils, so we look at the other spring too. Replacing both in one visit adds a second spring at the same starting price, but it saves a second call and keeps the door balanced. If you prefer to change only the broken one, we will do that and tell you what we see in the other. When the door itself is cracked or rusted through, springs alone will not fix it; compare the cost with a new door.
Spring Replacement Starting Amounts
- New spring, torsion or extension each spring
- Starts at $150
- Inspection visit when you approve the repair
- $0
Each spring is priced on its own, from $150 per spring. See the whole price list
The final price depends on how many springs the door uses and how big they are. A single-car door with one torsion spring is a simpler job than a heavy double door with two long springs. Coated or higher-cycle springs cost more than plain ones. If the spring broke so hard that a cable frayed, those parts are added only with your OK, with cable work from $150 per cable.
Spring Repair Across Our Service Area
We do spring work in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas, Leucadia, Solana Beach and Olivenhain. On the beach streets, salt air works on bare coils, so coated springs are worth a question. Up in Olivenhain, a wide door on a larger lot may need two heavier springs. In every town the advice is the same: leave the door closed and phone us. See the price list for starting amounts.
Spring Questions
Can I still open my garage with a broken spring?
It is not safe to try. The door is far heavier than it feels with working springs, and the opener can strip its gear or pull the door crooked. Use another exit, leave the car where it is if you can, and call us. If the car must get out right now, ask for emergency garage door repair.
What does a new spring cost?
The owner price list starts at $150 per spring. A door with two torsion springs is best done as a pair, so plan on two. Manzanita confirms the total with you before work, and the inspection is $0 when you approve the repair. If a cable frayed when the spring broke, garage door cable repair starts at $150 per cable.
Do beach homes go through springs faster?
Rust from salty, damp air can shorten spring life. A light coat of garage door lubricant on the coils every few months slows it down, and coated springs resist rust better than bare steel. Check the coils for orange flaking once in a while to plan ahead. Damp air also wears hinges and rollers, which garage door track repair covers.
Should I replace both springs or just the broken one?
Both is usually the better buy. Springs on the same door age at the same rate, so the second one tends to fail soon after the first. Changing the pair keeps the lift even and saves a second visit. If the budget is tight, we can replace one and tell you the state of the other. A worn-out door may point to new garage door installation instead.
How can I tell what kind of spring sits on my door?
Look above the closed door. A thick coil on a metal bar across the top of the opening means torsion springs. Long springs running beside the horizontal tracks, near the ceiling, mean extension springs. Both start at $150 per spring. Tell us which you see when you call, and the garage door repair visit is planned around it.