It depends on the spring. Extension springs on a light, single car door are within reach of a careful, experienced DIYer who uses safety cables. Torsion springs, the kind on a shaft above most Utah doors, are not a DIY job. They store enough energy to cause serious injury, and DASMA and Clopay both advise against homeowner replacement.
First, figure out which spring you have
Look above the closed door. Large coils on a steel shaft across the top of the door are torsion springs. Long springs running alongside the horizontal tracks near the ceiling are extension springs.
Most newer Wasatch Front homes have torsion springs. Clopay describes both types as under extreme tension and says spring work is not a DIY project. DASMA calls springs the most important and most dangerous part of the door and does not recommend installation by a novice.
Extension springs: possible, with real precautions
On a lightweight door with extension springs, a homeowner with real mechanical experience can do this job, with these precautions:
- Safety cables are not optional. A safety cable runs through the center of each extension spring and anchors at both ends. If the spring breaks, the cable keeps the pieces from flying across the garage. If yours are missing, add them.
- Work only with the door fully open and secured, when extension springs carry the least tension.
- Match the spring to the door. Extension springs are color coded by the weight they lift. The wrong spring leaves the door out of balance and wears out the opener.
- Replace both sides. DASMA recommends replacing springs in pairs.
If the door is heavy, double wide, or you are not sure what you are looking at, treat it like a torsion job and hire it out.
Torsion springs: why we tell homeowners not to
Amarr notes that springs carry hundreds of pounds of force. In a torsion spring, all of that energy sits in the wound coil, and releasing or loading it safely takes proper winding bars, technique, and practice.
We do not publish winding instructions, on purpose. Here is what goes wrong:
- Improvised tools. Screwdrivers and rebar slip out of winding cones. When they do, the cone spins with full force and whatever is holding the bar gets hit.
- Set screws. The screws that lock the cone to the shaft have to be loosened and tightened at exactly the right point. Loosen them at the wrong time and the spring unwinds all at once.
- Cables and drums. A cable that jumps its drum under tension can drop the door or leave it hanging crooked.
- Wrong spring size. Wire size, inside diameter, and length must match the door weight and height.
Online videos can make this look easy. The real risk is that nothing goes wrong until the one moment it does.
What you can safely do right now
If a spring just broke, here is what is safe and useful:
- Stop using the opener. The opener is not designed to lift the full weight of the door. Running it with a broken spring can strip gears, bend the door, or snap a cable.
- Pull the emergency release only with the door closed. If the door is open with a broken spring and you pull the red cord, the door can drop fast. Leave an open door alone and keep everyone out from under it.
- Do not try to lift a door with a broken spring. Without the spring, you are lifting the full weight of the door.
- Keep kids, pets, and cars clear.
If you hire it out, what to look for
Spring prices vary more than most homeowners expect. Angi puts the national average for spring replacement around $250, with a typical range of $150 to $350 or more. Among Utah companies that publish prices, one torsion spring runs from about $150 to $750. Our Utah spring replacement cost guide goes deeper. What to ask:
- Is the company licensed? In Utah, garage door work falls under the S220 classification. You can check any contractor on DOPL’s lookup; see how to check a garage door contractor’s license in Utah.
- Will you get a written price before work starts? Not a range on the phone and a bigger number at the door.
- Are both springs being replaced, and are they sized to your door? Ask what cycle rating you are getting.
- Is the tech pushing a new door? A broken spring alone rarely justifies one.
- What is the warranty on the spring and the labor?
When to call us
Call if you see a gap in a torsion spring, heard a loud bang from the garage, the door feels heavy, or an extension spring is stretched or missing its safety cable. We will check both springs, match new ones to your door’s weight, and give you a quote before any work starts. The service call is free with any repair, and we carry high cycle springs on the truck if you want longer life. Ask us about the spring and labor warranty when you call. Learn more about our broken spring repair service or read how long garage door springs last in Utah. Call (385) 265-1093.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pull the emergency release cord if a spring breaks?
Only with the door fully closed. With the door open and a spring broken, the opener is what is holding the door up. Pull the release and the door can drop fast.
Can I open my garage door with a broken spring?
You should not. The opener is not built to lift the full door weight, and neither are you. If a car is trapped, call for service.
Why do I need to replace both springs if only one broke?
DASMA recommends it. Both springs have the same cycles on them, so the second is usually close to failing, and mixing old and new springs throws the door out of balance.
Are extension springs safer than torsion springs?
They are easier to work on with the door open, but a broken extension spring without a safety cable can whip across the garage. Neither type is harmless.
