You heard the BANG. The garage door won't lift. The opener strains and gives up. Yep — almost certainly a snapped torsion spring.
Step 1: Stop Using the Opener Immediately
Hitting the button again with a broken spring can burn out your motor, snap a cable, or send the door off the track. Walk away from the button.
Step 2: Don't Try to Lift It By Hand Unless Necessary
A spring-balanced door without its spring weighs 150–350 pounds. If you absolutely have to get out, get help, pull the red emergency release, lift slowly with at least two people, and PROP IT OPEN with something solid. Do not stand under it.
Step 3: Do NOT DIY the Spring Replacement
Torsion springs store enormous energy. Improper handling causes severe injuries — broken fingers, fractured forearms, lost eyesight from flying winding bars. Every spring company has ER stories of homeowners they had to come finish for.
Step 4: Call a Pro
Most Westchester spring jobs are completed same day. Cost in Westchester runs $250–$450 for a full pair (always replaced in pairs) plus a cable and drum inspection.
Why Did It Break?
- Cycle life. Standard springs last ~10,000 cycles — about 7–10 years on average use.
- Cold weather. Cold makes metal brittle. Sudden cold snaps trigger a lot of January service calls.
- Rust. Coastal Westchester (Rye, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Pelham) sees faster corrosion.
- Single-spring setups. Cheaper to install, faster to fail.
Should I Upgrade to High-Cycle Springs?
If your garage is your main entry (which is true for most Westchester homes), yes. High-cycle springs cost ~$80–$150 more and last 2–3× longer.