When a garage door spring snaps or loses its tension, you have no option but to replace it. Replacing a spring means releasing the tension, removing it, and installing a new one at the correct height. It’s one of the most common repairs we handle in Ypsilanti, and one we tell homeowners never to try themselves.
At M&M Garage Doors, we handle torsion and extension springs safely, with technicians available 24/7 when you get trapped before your commute down Washtenaw Avenue. We’ll walk you through how garage door spring replacement works in Ypsilanti and why our pros should handle this job.
How Garage Door Springs Work
Garage door springs counterbalance your door’s weight so it opens and closes with little effort. Every time you click the opener, the springs do the lifting while the opener guides the door along the tracks. If they’re tensioned correctly, the door feels light enough that you can lift it with one hand.
The springs do the heavy lifting, which is why a broken spring usually means your garage door won’t open.
Signs Your Garage Door Spring Is Broken
A broken garage door spring is easy to spot if you know what to look for. Keep an eye out for:
- A loud bang from the garage.
- The door lifted a few inches, then stopped.
- A gap in the spring coil above the door.
- The door feels heavier than usual when you lift it by hand.
- One side of the door lifting higher than the other.
- Loose or slack cables on either side of the door.
Torsion Springs vs. Extension Springs
Garage doors use either torsion or extension springs, depending on your home’s age and the door’s design. Torsion springs sit on a metal shaft above the door and twist as it moves, and you’ll mostly find them in newer homes with attached garages.
Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door and stretch as it closes. They need safety cables running through the center to prevent a broken spring from flying across the garage, which is why they’re mostly found in older Ypsilanti homes with detached garages.
Why Replacing Garage Door Springs Yourself Is Dangerous
Replacing a torsion spring involves unwinding a spring that’s holding back the full weight of your door. Technicians use steel winding bars that turn the spring a quarter turn at a time. If the bar slips or you use the wrong tool, the spring can whip the bar into your hand or face.
Even if the job seems straightforward, replacing springs carries serious risk. If the spring is the wrong size or a screw comes loose, you could suffer a severe injury or have the door drop without warning.
What to Do When a Garage Door Spring Breaks
When a spring breaks, leave the door where it is and stop using the opener. A door without spring support can drop suddenly, so never try to force it up or down if it’s halfway open. Unplug the opener so nobody presses the remote or wall button, and keep everyone out of the garage.
When a spring breaks, call M&M Garage Doors first. We answer 24/7, and our technicians can get to you the same day for garage door spring repair in Ypsilanti.
How Technicians Replace Garage Door Springs Safely
Curious how our technicians replace garage door springs? It starts with an inspection. Our technicians check the cables, drums, bearings, and rollers for any other damage. Next, they clamp the door so it can’t move and use winding bars to release any remaining tension. We remove the old spring from the shaft and install a new spring matched to your door’s weight and height.
We end every garage door spring replacement in Washtenaw County with a full test. Our technicians lift the door halfway to test its balance, confirm the garage door spring safety, and lubricate moving parts. We complete most torsion and extension spring replacements in about an hour, and you’ll get an upfront quote before we start.
Why the Correct Garage Door Spring Size Matters
Garage door springs come in different wire thicknesses, inside diameters, and lengths, and each combination is rated for a specific door weight. A spring that’s too weak leaves the door heavy and forces the opener to do the lifting, while one that’s too strong makes the door shoot open and fight out when you close it. Our technicians measure the door and old springs before choosing replacements, so you get properly fitted springs.
Should Both Garage Door Springs Be Replaced Together?
If your door uses two springs, replace them as a pair. Both springs were likely installed at the same time and have gone through the same number of cycles. The second one is usually close to breaking, and replacing both garage door springs now can save you another repair call in a couple of months.
How Broken Springs Affect Garage Door Openers and Cables
A broken spring puts the door’s full weight on your opener. Residential openers are built to guide a balanced door and don’t have the power to lift 150 pounds. Continuing to use the opener with broken springs can strip the drive gear and burn out the motor.
Cables also take on some of the damage when a spring fails. When a spring breaks, the cable on that side can slip off its drum and go slack, forcing the other side to carry the door’s full load. Replace a frayed or unwound cable along with the spring to keep the door balanced and safe to use.
Why Older Garage Doors May Need Additional Repairs
When a spring breaks on an older garage door, more often than not, other issues are involved. Decades-old doors often have worn rollers, cracked hinges, and wood panels that have soaked up snow and rain through many Michigan winters.
During your residential garage door spring replacement, our technicians can point out parts that are close to failing so you can decide what to fix now. We can also replace rollers and hinges during the same visit.
How Michigan Winters Affect Garage Door Springs
Cold weather makes spring steel more brittle, making springs more likely to snap when temperatures drop below freezing. Ypsilanti winters also swing above and below freezing all season. Those freeze-thaw cycles thicken lubricant and make rollers drag, forcing the springs to work harder every time the door opens and closes.
Preventive Maintenance for Longer Spring Life
A routine preventative maintenance check every year extends the life of your garage door springs and catches worn parts before they fail. Technicians adjust spring tension, lubricate moving parts, and inspect the cables and weather seals to keep the door balanced through winter.
You can also build a few at-home habits in between visits to help your springs last longer:
- Run a balance test every month to catch common problems early.
- Lubricate the springs, rollers, and hinges with garage door lubricant twice a year.
- Rinse salt and slush off the garage floor in the winter.
Why Ypsilanti Homeowners Choose M&M Garage Doors
When a garage door spring breaks, Ypsilanti homeowners know they can count on M&M Garage Doors. Our technicians are available 24/7 and provide same-day garage door spring repair near you whenever you’re trapped inside.
Here’s why local homeowners call our garage door spring replacement company:
- Licensed and insured technicians based right out of Ypsilanti
- Free estimates for garage door spring installations
- Quality parts as a LiftMaster dealer and authorized Amarr installer
- Ongoing support for tune-ups and weather sealing
Schedule Garage Door Spring Replacement in Ypsilanti
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Contact M&M Garage Doors to schedule a garage door spring inspection today!
