Denver Metro · Spring Repair & Replacement
Broken Garage Door Spring.
Fixed Today. Done Right.
Spring failure is the most common garage door emergency in Colorado, and one of the most commonly mishandled repairs. Swain Garage Doors sizes springs correctly, tensions them properly, and checks the full system before leaving your driveway.
"Loud snap at 6am, door was dead. We were out by 9, had the right spring on the truck, explained what happened and why, and was done in under an hour. That's all you want from this situation." — Thornton Homeowner
Do Not Attempt to Repair Garage Door Springs Yourself
Torsion springs store significant energy under tension, a wound torsion spring holds hundreds of pounds of stored force. An improperly released or installed spring can cause severe injury. This is one of the few garage door repairs where the DIY risk is genuinely high, not just theoretically possible. The repair cost is modest. The cost of getting it wrong is not.
Spring Types
Torsion vs. Extension Springs, What You Have and What It Means
Most homeowners don't know which type of spring their door uses until one breaks. Here's what to know about each.
Torsion Springs
Torsion springs run horizontally above the garage door opening, mounted on a metal shaft. They work by twisting, winding and unwinding under tension to counterbalance the door's weight as it travels up and down.
Most homes built after the mid-1990s use torsion springs. They're more durable than extension springs, handle the door's weight more evenly, and are generally safer when they fail because the spring stays on the shaft rather than becoming a projectile.
Torsion springs require precise sizing based on door weight, height, and track radius. A wrong-size spring causes imbalance, premature opener wear, and shortened spring life. We measure and size every replacement correctly, not a visual match to what came out.
Extension Springs
Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door, above the door panels. They work by stretching, extending under tension as the door closes, contracting as it opens.
Extension springs are common in older homes and lower-headroom garage configurations. They're typically less expensive to replace but wear faster than torsion springs and can be more dangerous when they fail, a snapped extension spring without a safety cable can travel a significant distance.
We always replace extension springs in pairs even when only one has failed. The surviving spring is typically at similar wear and will fail shortly after, replacing both at one service visit costs less than two separate calls.
Warning Signs
How to Know Your Spring Is Failing Before It Breaks
Most spring failures don't happen without warning. Here are the signals that show up in the weeks before a spring goes, and what they mean.
Door Feels Heavy or Slow
The most consistent early warning. A door that used to open easily and now takes effort, either manually or noticeably slower on the opener, is showing spring fatigue. Tension is dropping as the spring approaches end of cycle life.
Door Doesn't Open Evenly
One side higher than the other, or a door that jerks to one side mid-travel, usually points to uneven spring tension. On extension spring systems, this often means one spring has already failed partially.
Door Reverses or Opens Only Partway
An opener that reverses when you try to close, or a door that stops halfway and won't continue, can be a spring tension issue triggering the opener's safety settings. The opener senses resistance it shouldn't be fighting.
Visible Gap or Separation in the Spring
A torsion spring with a visible gap, a section where the coils have separated, has broken. The gap is usually obvious once you know to look for it. Extension springs may appear stretched or deformed.
Loud Bang or Snap
The unmistakable sound of a spring breaking under full tension. It's a single, sharp crack, often startling enough to be mistaken for something else. The door will feel impossibly heavy immediately after.
Opener Struggling Loudly
An opener that strains, runs slower than usual, or sounds like it's working twice as hard is fighting a door it can't properly balance. Running the opener this way accelerates motor wear significantly, catch it before the opener goes too.
Pricing
Why Swain's Prices Are What They Are
The big garage door names you see dominating Google search results are paying hundreds of dollars per click to stay there. That spend doesn't disappear — it gets absorbed into the service call fee, the parts markup, and the invoice you end up signing.
Sam doesn't play that game. Swain Garage Doors gets work the old-fashioned way: show up on time, charge a fair price, fix it right, and let the customer tell a neighbor. Less overhead means the savings go to you, not to a marketing budget.
Broken Spring.
Fixed Today. Done Right.
Same-day service, proper sizing, full system check. Call Swain Garage Doors directly.
DIY vs. Professional
Why Spring Repair Is the One Job You Shouldn't DIY
Most garage door repairs are manageable for a competent homeowner. Spring replacement is the exception, and the reason is physics, not gatekeeping.
The Real Risks of DIY Spring Repair
Stored energy hazard. A wound torsion spring holds the equivalent of hundreds of pounds of stored force. Releasing it incorrectly, wrong tool, wrong sequence, slipped grip, can result in the spring unwinding violently. Injuries from spring releases are serious and well-documented.
Sizing errors cause immediate problems. The wrong spring for your door's weight creates an imbalanced door that strains the opener, wears cables unevenly, and can fail again quickly. Getting this right requires knowing your door's exact weight and the correct wire size, inside diameter, and length for your configuration.
Winding bars are not optional. The process requires specific winding bars inserted into the spring's winding cone. Using a screwdriver, a punch, or any improvised tool dramatically increases the risk of a slip under tension.
Getting it wrong costs more than getting it right. A wrong-size spring that causes opener damage or a secondary failure means paying for the original spring replacement plus additional repairs.
What a Professional Spring Replacement Includes
Correct sizing from the start. We measure door weight and existing spring specs to size the replacement correctly, not a visual match to what broke.
Safe tension and release procedure. Proper tools, correct sequence, and hands that have done this hundreds of times. The energy in the spring is controlled, not guessed at.
Full system check included. Cables, drums, rollers, and opener force settings are all checked after the spring replacement. A spring failure often means other components were under unusual stress.
Balance test before leaving. The door is manually balanced, released from the opener, raised to mid-point, and checked for level hold. A door that won't hold mid-point isn't ready to use regardless of how new the spring is.
High-cycle upgrade option on the spot. If your usage pattern warrants it, we can install high-cycle springs at the same visit for a modest upcharge, no second call, no second labor charge.
How It Works
What a Spring Replacement With Swain Looks Like
From the call to the completed repair, what actually happens and how long it takes.
Call Swain Directly
Describe what happened, the sound, whether the door is open or closed, and any relevant details about your garage. We schedule a real arrival time, not a wind
On-Site Assessment
We inspect the spring type, measure the existing specs, check the cables and drums, and assess whether the opener was damaged by running against a broken spring.
Price Before Starting
You get the cost of the spring replacement, including any additional components that need attention, before any work starts. You approve it. Then it happens.
Replace, Balance & Test
Spring replaced, cable and drum condition verified, door balanced, opener force settings checked, full travel test. You get a system that works correctly, not just a spring that's installed.
Why Swain
What Separates a Proper Spring Replacement From a Quick Swap
Spring replacement is a common repair that's commonly done wrong. Here's what Swain Garage Doors does differently.
Sized for Your Door, Not the Last One
We measure and calculate the correct spring for your door's actual weight and configuration. Not a visual match, not "the same size that was there." The right spring for the right door.
Cables & Drums Checked Every Time
A spring that broke under stress often means cables and drums absorbed unusual load too. We inspect both on every spring call, a cable failure after a spring replacement is avoidable.
Balance Test Before We Leave
The door is released from the opener and checked for mid-point balance. A door that won't hold level is still telling you something is wrong. We don't leave until the test passes.
Price Before We Start
You know the cost before a single tool comes out. Spring repair pricing is predictable, we post it and we stick to it.
Owner Does the Job
Swain Garage Doors answers directly, schedules the call, and does the repair. No subcontractor, no relay. The same hands from first call to finished job.
High-Cycle Option Available
We offer high-cycle spring upgrades at every replacement. If your usage pattern warrants it, we explain the cost and benefit honestly and let you decide.
What People Are Saying
Spring Repair Calls Across the Metro
Real feedback from homeowners who needed a spring replaced fast and correctly.
"Door was stuck closed on a workday morning. We were out within a few hours, replaced the spring, and checked the whole system. Told me my cables were starting to show wear and gave me the option to address it. No pressure, just information."
"We went with the high-cycle springs after everything was explained the math, we use the garage constantly with two cars and a home gym setup. Made sense. The whole job was under two hours and exactly what he quoted."
"My house is older, original extension spring setup. The tech knew exactly what to do, replaced both springs, tested the balance before he left, and explained what I should watch for going forward. Solid."
FAQ
Garage Door Spring Questions
Everything homeowners across the Denver metro ask about broken springs, answered straight.
Can I still use my garage door with a broken spring?
No. A door with a broken torsion spring relies on the opener motor to lift a door that may weigh 150–300 lbs, far more than it was designed to handle alone. Running the opener against a broken spring risks burning out the motor, damaging the cables, and in a worst case, allowing the door to drop unexpectedly. Leave the door in its current position and call us. Most spring repairs are same-day.
Should I replace one spring or both?
Both, with very rare exceptions. If you have two torsion springs, common on double-car doors, the second spring is typically at the same age and cycle count as the one that just failed. Replacing only the broken one leaves you with a mismatched system and a second service call within a year or two. We'll show you both prices and let you decide, but the recommendation is always to do both in one visit.
How long will the new spring last?
Standard torsion springs are rated for 10,000 cycles. Depending on how often you use the door, that's typically 7–14 years. High-cycle springs rated at 20,000+ cycles are available for a modest upcharge at the same visit, for high-usage households, that math is usually favorable. We'll run through it honestly based on your usage.
Why did my spring break, did something cause it?
Usually no external cause, springs fail because they've hit the end of their rated cycle life. The timing can feel random, but it's predictable if you know the cycle count and usage rate. Colorado's temperature swings do contribute to metal fatigue over time, which is why springs near foothills communities like Arvada and Brighton sometimes wear faster than metro averages. A spring that fails isn't a defect, it's a consumable part that's done its job.
Is spring repair something I can do myself?
We'd strongly advise against it. Torsion springs store a significant amount of mechanical energy under tension. Releasing that energy incorrectly, wrong tool, wrong sequence, any slip, can result in serious injury. This is one of the few garage door repairs where the safety risk is real, not theoretical. The repair cost is modest. See our full repair page for more context →
How quickly can you get out for a spring repair?
Most calls in our primary service area, Thornton, Northglenn, Westminster, Commerce City, are handled same-day. Broomfield, Arvada, Denver, and Brighton are typically same-day as well depending on the day's schedule. Call directly for the most accurate timeframe. You get a real arrival time, not a four-hour window.
Related Services
Other Services From Swain Garage Doors
Where We Work
Spring Repair Across the Denver Metro
Same-day spring repair, same pricing, same owner doing the work, in every city on this list.
Request Spring Repair
Need Garage Door Spring Repair?
Do you have a broken garage door spring? We’ll get it repaired as soon as possible.
For the fastest response, call Swain Garage Doors directly at (720) 621-1770.