Garage door extension spring, pulley and lift cable mounted along the ceiling
You heard a bang from the garage, or the door suddenly feels far heavier than it should. That is what a broken spring usually looks like. We replace torsion and extension springs on garage doors across Ottawa, and we can often get to you the same day.
Call 613-265-3667, or send a photo of the spring area above the door and tell us what happened. We'll confirm the diagnosis, give you a flat-rate price and only start once you've approved it.
A garage door can weigh well over 100 pounds, and a double door with insulation weighs more. The springs carry that weight. The opener only guides a door that is already balanced. That is why a door with a broken spring won't lift, or lifts a few inches and stops, even when the opener motor sounds fine.
Most residential doors use one of two systems:
Both are under heavy tension whenever the door is installed. That is why spring work is not a weekend job.
Springs are rated for a set number of open-and-close cycles, commonly around 10,000 for standard ones. A household that opens the door four times a day gets a bit under seven years out of that rating. Higher-cycle springs last longer and cost more.
If your car is inside a closed garage, see emergency garage door repair, or just call.
A spring that lets go can also damage other parts. A cable may jump off its drum, a roller may pop out, or the door may hang crooked. If that has happened, the cable repair and off-track repair pages cover it, and we handle it in the same visit.
On doors with two torsion springs, they were installed together and have done the same number of cycles. When one breaks, the other is usually close behind. We'll usually recommend replacing both, and we'll show you the condition of the second one so you can decide. Replacing only the broken spring is sometimes reasonable on a nearly new door.
If the spring is fine but the door still misbehaves, the fault may be elsewhere. See garage door repair for other problems we fix.
Springs wear out on a cycle count, not a calendar, but cold is when they tend to fail. Winter temperatures stiffen lubricant and tighten every joint in the system, so a worn spring is asked to do more work. Road salt and damp air also rust coils, and rust weakens metal at the point where it flexes most. If your door is over about seven years old and you haven't had the springs looked at, a winter visit before the deep cold is cheaper than an emergency call in January.
Most spring calls come from homes. Doors on shops and warehouses cycle many times a day, so their springs wear quickly. See commercial garage door repair.
Broken spring? Send us a photo of the door and the area above it. Call 613-265-3667 or request a quote, and tell us what you heard and what the door is doing now.
Standard springs are usually rated for around 10,000 cycles, which is often six to nine years in a household. Higher-cycle springs last longer. Heavy use, rust and poor balance shorten the life of any spring.
The door may move, but it shouldn't be used. Without the spring the full weight of the door rests on the opener, which can fail, and a door that isn't held up can fall. Leave it alone until it's repaired.
On a two-spring door, usually yes. They've done the same number of cycles, so the second one is often near the end of its life. We'll check it and show you before you decide.
Torsion springs mount on a shaft above the door and twist. Extension springs run along the side tracks and stretch. Torsion systems tend to lift more evenly and last longer, while extension systems are common on older or lighter doors.
It's a bad idea. The door is far heavier without the spring, and it can drop suddenly or bend the tracks. If you're stuck inside a closed garage, call us before you force anything.
We don't recommend it. Springs store a lot of energy, and mistakes with winding bars and set screws can cause serious injuries. It's a job for a technician with the right tools.
Not sure whether a spring has actually broken? Our article on broken garage door spring signs and causes covers what you can safely spot from the floor — and why this is not a DIY repair.
Alex was here within an hour of my call. In the Ottawa Valley. Absolutely amazing service and he had backup equipment as well to deal with what I needed. 10 out 10. Honest, knowledgeable and excellent work. Thank you Alex.
Very fast response to the problem we had. We're very satisfied with the result! Thank you Ilan!
Alex was great to work with. Communication wise I didn't have to wait for answers to my questions, he worked with my time line and the quality of the work was great!
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Tell us what's wrong and we'll get you a fast, honest price for the fix.
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