Torsion Springs

A torsion spring is the coiled spring mounted on the bar above your garage door. It stores the energy that makes a door weighing well over a hundred pounds feel like it weighs almost nothing when you lift it.

How it works

The spring is wound tight when the door is closed. As the door opens, the spring unwinds and gives that energy back, taking the weight off the opener and off you. Torsion springs almost always come in pairs, and a matched pair is what keeps the door balanced and travelling straight.

Why they snap

Every open and close is one more cycle of stress on the steel. Springs are rated for a set number of cycles, and eventually one lets go — which is the loud bang people hear from inside the house. Rust, salt air near the coast, and a door that was never balanced all speed that up.

Signs a torsion spring is failing

• A loud bang from the garage, often followed by a door that will not open.
• The opener runs but the door barely moves, or does not move at all.
• The door feels extremely heavy when you try to lift it by hand.
• A visible gap in the coil, or two springs that no longer look the same.
• The door opens a foot and stops.

Never replace a torsion spring yourself

A wound torsion spring holds enough stored energy to cause serious injury. The winding bars, the tension and the balance of the door all have to be handled correctly, and a spring that is the wrong size or wound the wrong way is dangerous. This is not a job for a homeowner with a socket set. If a spring has failed, keep clear of the door and call us.

What we do

We replace torsion springs in matched pairs so the door stays balanced, use springs sized to your door's actual weight, then re-tension, lubricate and cycle-test the door before we leave. Most torsion spring replacements are completed the same day.

Call (786) 977-4204 or see our spring replacement service for more detail.