2026-03-10 7 min read
If you've ever heard a loud bang from your garage that sounded like a gunshot, there's a good chance a garage door spring just let go. It's one of the most common. and most disruptive. garage door failures we deal with here in Richardson. And given the way our North Texas climate treats metal components, it happens more often than most homeowners expect.
Richardson sits in a climate that swings hard. Summers regularly push past 95°F, and winters can bring surprise cold snaps that drop temperatures near freezing overnight. That cycle of expansion and contraction puts real stress on the steel coils that carry the weight of your door every single time it moves.
Torsion springs are the coiled cylinders you'll see mounted above the garage door opening. They wind up to store energy as the door closes, then unwind to help lift the door when you open it. Extension springs, found on older systems, stretch along tracks on either side of the door.
Both types are rated by cycles. one cycle equals one full open and close. A standard spring is typically rated for around 10,000 cycles. For a household using the garage door four times a day, that works out to roughly seven to nine years of life. But in Richardson's climate, that timeline can shrink. The intense summer heat accelerates metal fatigue, and humidity speeds up corrosion on unlubricated springs. both of which can shorten real-world lifespan well below the rated cycle count.
Neighborhoods like Canyon Creek and Prairie Creek, where many homes date back to the 1970s and 1980s, often have original spring systems that are well past their prime. If you're in one of those established areas and haven't thought about your springs in years, it's worth a closer look.
Disconnect your opener and try lifting the door manually to about waist height. A properly balanced door should stay put. if it falls or feels like you're lifting a car, the springs are no longer doing their share of the work. This is one of the most reliable at-home tests you can do.
A sudden noise like a firecracker or gunshot from inside your garage almost always means a spring has snapped. Since springs are under extreme stored tension, they release that energy violently when they break. Don't try to operate the door after this happens.
Healthy springs control the descent of your door, allowing it to close smoothly and gently. If it's dropping fast or slamming shut, the springs are losing their ability to provide resistance. a serious safety concern that needs prompt attention.
Take a look at the torsion springs above your door. If you can see a gap between coils, that spring is broken. A healthy spring has tightly wound coils with no separation.
In Richardson's humidity, rust can develop faster than you'd expect. A rusty spring is more brittle and far more prone to snapping under load. If you see orange discoloration or flaking on the spring surface, don't wait. that spring is already weakened.
Your garage door opener is not designed to lift the full weight of the door on its own. Springs do most of the heavy lifting. When springs weaken, the opener has to compensate. and that extra strain will burn out the motor prematurely, turning one repair into two. If your opener sounds labored or stops mid-travel, springs are often the culprit.
A failing spring puts stress on every other part of the system. tracks, rollers, hinges, cables, and the opener motor all work harder to compensate. Catching a weakening spring early is almost always cheaper than dealing with the secondary damage that follows a full failure. For a deeper look at what panel-level damage can look like when a door system is out of balance, check out our complete guide to panel repair.
One more thing worth knowing: when one spring breaks, the other is typically close behind. Both springs experience the same wear over the same number of cycles. Replacing both at the same time when one fails is the right call. it prevents uneven wear and avoids a second emergency call a few months down the road.
Honestly. no. Garage door springs are under extreme tension, and a spring that releases unexpectedly can cause serious injury. This isn't a job for YouTube tutorials. The tools required are specialized, the risk is real, and the cost of a professional replacement is modest compared to an emergency room visit. If you're seeing any of the warning signs above, schedule a service call and let a trained technician handle it safely.
Richardson Garage Doors serves Richardson and surrounding communities including Plano, Allen, and Garland. If you're not sure whether your springs are still in good shape, a quick inspection can give you peace of mind. or catch a problem before it catches you off guard.
Q: How do I know if my garage door spring is broken without going into the garage? A: If your opener sounds like it's running but the door barely moves or won't lift at all, a broken spring is the most likely cause. You may also notice the door looks uneven or tilted on one side.
Q: Can I still use my garage door with a broken spring? A: You shouldn't. Operating a door with a broken spring puts enormous strain on the opener and can cause the door to drop unexpectedly. Disconnect the opener and call for service. don't force it open manually either.
Q: How long does a spring replacement take? A: For a professional technician, a standard torsion spring replacement typically takes about an hour, including a balance check and safety inspection of the full system.