2026-04-15 7 min read
If you've ever walked into your garage on a Tuesday morning and found your door stuck halfway. or heard a loud bang that shook the ceiling. there's a good chance a spring just let go. It happens to homeowners all over Lake Worth, from the older bungalows near the College Park Historic District to the newer two-car garages in communities like Gulfstream Preserve off Lyons Road. Spring failure is the single most common garage door repair we handle, and it's also one of the most dangerous to ignore.
Your garage door weighs anywhere from 130 to over 300 pounds. The springs. not the motor. do most of the heavy lifting. Every time the door opens and closes, the spring absorbs and releases tension. Over time, the metal fatigues. Most springs are rated for 10,000 to 20,000 cycles, which sounds like a lot until you realize that a family using the garage twice a day goes through roughly 700+ cycles per year.
There are two types you'll find on Lake Worth homes:
- Torsion springs sit mounted horizontally above the door on a metal shaft. They're more durable, last longer, and are the standard on most modern sectional doors. - Extension springs run along the sides of the door on the horizontal tracks. They're more common on older tilt-up doors and cost less to replace, but they're also considered less safe if they snap without a proper safety cable.
If you're not sure which type you have, check out our full range of garage door services. we can identify your spring system during any service call.
Springs rarely fail without warning. Here's what to look for:
The door feels extremely heavy. If you disconnect the opener and try to lift the door manually, it should feel relatively light. maybe 8 to 10 pounds of resistance. If it feels like you're lifting the entire door's weight, the spring is worn or broken.
Gaps or separation in the coil. Walk over and look at the spring above the door. A healthy torsion spring should look like a tight, continuous coil. If you see a gap of an inch or more, the spring has snapped.
The door moves unevenly or jerks. One-sided tension from a failing spring causes the door to tilt or lurch during operation. a clear signal something is off-balance.
A loud bang from the garage. In South Florida's humidity, metal fatigue happens faster than in drier climates. When a torsion spring finally gives out, the release of tension sounds like a gunshot. If you hear it and your door suddenly won't open, stop using the opener immediately.
In Florida, spring replacement typically runs between $300 and $500 for a standard residential door, which includes both springs and labor. That Florida-specific range reflects local labor rates and the fact that most technicians here recommend upgrading to galvanized or oil-tempered springs, which resist the salt air and humidity far better than standard steel. especially important if you're within a few miles of the Intracoastal or the coast.
A few factors push the price up or down:
- Single vs. double door: Double-car garage doors require heavier-duty springs, which cost $15,$30 more per spring. - Torsion vs. extension: Torsion spring jobs require more precise tensioning and specialized tools, so labor is higher. - One spring vs. both: Most reputable technicians will recommend replacing both springs at the same time, even if only one broke. Since both springs age at the same rate, the second one often fails within weeks of the first. and you'll pay another service call fee if you wait.
If you're also dealing with corrosion on the existing hardware, read our guide on how coastal salt air affects your garage door components before scheduling service.
We understand the instinct to save money. But garage door spring replacement is genuinely one of the most dangerous home repairs a non-professional can attempt. Torsion springs are wound under hundreds of pounds of stored tension. A slip with the winding bar. or the wrong tools. can result in the spring snapping loose violently. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports tens of thousands of garage door-related injuries annually in the U.S., and spring work accounts for a significant portion.
Beyond safety, incorrect spring tension voids most manufacturer warranties on both the spring and your opener. A professional uses calibrated tension tools, installs safety hardware, and tests the door's balance before leaving. That's not something a YouTube video can replicate safely.
Garage Door Lake Worth carries properly rated springs for every door type we encounter in this area. including the heavier hurricane-rated sectional doors that are increasingly standard in Palm Beach County. If you're ready to get it fixed, schedule your service call today.
With proper installation and routine lubrication, new springs on a Lake Worth home should last 7,12 years for extension springs and up to 15 years for quality torsion springs. The local climate matters here. Homes closer to the ocean. or with west-facing garage doors that get baked by afternoon sun. will see faster wear on all metal components. Quarterly lubrication with a silicone-based spray (not WD-40, which attracts grit) goes a long way.
Neighbors in Boynton Beach and Lantana face the same salt-air conditions, and the advice is the same: don't wait until the spring snaps to act. If your springs are over 8 years old or showing visible rust or coil gaps, a proactive replacement is cheaper than an emergency call.
Have more questions about what's covered and what to expect? Browse our frequently asked questions or call us directly.
Q: Can I still use my garage door opener if one spring is broken? A: You should not. Operating the opener with a broken spring forces the motor to carry the full weight of the door, which can burn out the motor in a single use. Most openers aren't built to handle that load. Keep the door closed and disconnected until the spring is replaced.
Q: How do I know if I have torsion or extension springs? A: Look above the door when it's closed. If you see a single spring (or two) mounted horizontally on a metal bar above the opening, those are torsion springs. If you see springs running along the tracks on either side of the door, those are extension springs.
Q: Should I replace both springs even if only one broke? A: Yes, in most cases. Both springs age together and share the same workload. When one breaks, the other is usually near the end of its life as well. Replacing both during the same visit saves you a second service fee and keeps the door balanced.