2026-04-07 7 min read
If you've ever heard a loud bang from your garage and walked out to find the door won't budge, there's a good chance a spring just let go. It's one of the most common calls we get from homeowners in Laguna Woods Village. and it almost always happens without much warning. Understanding what your springs do, how long they last, and what to do when they fail can save you from a bad situation getting worse.
Your garage door weighs anywhere from 150 to 300 pounds. Torsion springs and extension springs are what make it possible to open that door with one finger. or with an electric opener that would burn out in days without them. These springs are under enormous tension at all times, storing and releasing energy with every cycle.
Torsion springs mount horizontally above the door opening and are the more common system in newer and mid-range homes. Extension springs run along the sides of the door and are frequently found in older garage door setups. which matters a lot in Laguna Woods, where most homes were built between the 1960s and 1980s. If you're not sure what type you have, look up: one thick coiled spring (or two) above the door means torsion; long springs along the horizontal tracks mean extension.
Most standard springs are rated for 10,000 to 15,000 cycles. roughly 7 to 10 years of regular use. If you use your garage door twice a day, that's about 14 years. But several factors shorten that lifespan here in South Orange County.
Laguna Woods sits just a few miles from the coast near Laguna Beach, and the marine air carries salt and moisture that accelerates metal corrosion. The community's Mediterranean climate brings mild, humid winters. March tends to be the most humid month of the year. followed by dry, warm summers. That cycle of moisture and heat causes metal fatigue faster than in inland areas. Springs that might last a decade in a dry climate can fail in 7 to 8 years here.
For homeowners in Laguna Woods Village whose homes are original-build from the 1960s or 70s, it's worth asking: when were the springs last replaced? If the answer is "I don't know," they're overdue for an inspection. You can learn more about what else to check with our garage door maintenance guide for older Laguna Woods homes.
Springs rarely give you much notice, but there are warning signs if you know what to look for:
- The door feels unusually heavy when you lift it manually. springs counterbalance the weight, so if they're weakening, you'll feel it - The door moves unevenly, with one side higher than the other during opening or closing - Visible rust, gaps, or separation in the spring coils. a gap in a torsion spring means it has broken - The opener strains or reverses without completing the full open cycle - A loud bang from the garage, even if the door still moves. that's the sound of a spring snapping under tension
If your door only opens 6 to 12 inches before stopping, that's a classic sign of spring failure. Don't keep forcing the opener. you'll burn out the motor.
This is worth being direct about: garage door spring replacement is genuinely dangerous. Springs store tremendous mechanical energy, and an improperly handled spring can release that energy violently, causing serious injury. This isn't a job where watching a YouTube video is enough preparation.
Beyond safety, getting the spring selection right matters. Using the wrong type or size puts extra strain on the entire system and leads to premature failure again. A professional will match the spring to your door's exact weight and size, then perform a balance test after installation to confirm everything is correct.
For questions about what to check before calling a pro, our FAQ page covers common concerns homeowners have about spring repair.
In Orange County, spring replacement typically costs between $250 and $450 for a standard residential door, depending on the type of spring, door size, and whether you're replacing one or both. Most technicians recommend replacing both springs at the same time. if one has failed, the other is likely close behind, and doing them together saves you a second service call within months.
High-cycle springs, which are rated for 25,000 to 50,000 cycles rather than the standard 10,000, cost more upfront but last two to three times longer. Given the coastal air in Laguna Woods, galvanized springs with a zinc coating offer better rust resistance and are worth the modest additional cost.
Most spring replacements take 45 to 75 minutes. A good technician will also test the door balance and inspect cables, rollers, and the opener before leaving. these components all work together, and a spring failure sometimes puts stress on everything else.
If you're ready to schedule a service call, Garage Door Laguna Woods carries replacement springs for all common residential systems and can typically handle same-day repairs.
Disconnect the opener by pulling the red release cord hanging from the trolley. Then try to lift the door manually. If it's extremely heavy or won't stay up on its own, the spring is the problem. If it lifts easily and stays put, the issue is likely with the opener.
Almost always both. Springs on the same door are installed at the same time and wear at the same rate. Replacing only the broken one typically means the other fails within months. Doing both at once is more cost-effective and avoids a repeat service call.
You shouldn't. A door without functioning springs can fall unexpectedly under its own weight, which is a serious safety hazard. Operating the opener with a broken spring can also burn out the motor. Until the spring is replaced, use another entry point and keep the garage door closed.