2026-04-10 7 min read
If you've ever heard a loud bang from your garage on a January morning. the kind that makes you think a car just hit something. there's a good chance what you actually heard was a garage door spring snapping. It's one of the most common calls we get at Auburndale Garage Doors between December and March, and the timing is no accident. Auburndale's winters are genuinely hard on metal components, and understanding why can save you from a frustrating, potentially dangerous situation.
Auburndale sits in the heart of Middlesex County, bordered by Waltham and the Charles River to the west, with winters that regularly bring temperatures into the single digits and repeated freeze-thaw cycles that are arguably harder on mechanical systems than steady cold alone. That pattern of warming and refreezing is exactly what accelerates spring wear.
Torsion springs. the large coiled springs mounted horizontally above your door. are under enormous tension even when the door is closed. When temperatures drop sharply, the metal contracts. When it warms back up, it expands. Do that dozens of times over a winter, and you're essentially stress-cycling the metal over and over. As one industry resource puts it, cold temperatures make the spring's metal more brittle and susceptible to breaking.
Most standard garage door springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles. one cycle being a single open-and-close. If you've lived in your home for seven or more years and never replaced the springs, you may already be on borrowed time heading into any New England winter.
Springs rarely fail without giving some advance notice. Here's what to look for before you hear that loud crack:
- The door feels unusually heavy. Disconnect your opener and try lifting the door manually. A properly balanced door should stay put when raised about halfway. If it drops, the springs aren't doing their job. - Visible gaps or stretching in the coil. Look up at the spring above your door. A spring under normal tension should look uniform. A gap in the coil is a clear sign it's already partially failed. - Slow or jerky opening. If your opener is straining or the door moves unevenly, the springs may be losing tension. - Squeaking or grinding sounds. While some noise is normal, a change in the sound profile often indicates metal fatigue.
Many homeowners along Commonwealth Avenue and in the older neighborhoods near Auburndale Village notice these symptoms in November and ignore them. then deal with a full break in February when it's 12°F outside.
When a torsion spring snaps, your opener is suddenly taking on the full weight of the door. which can be anywhere from 150 to 400 pounds depending on the door material and size. Operating the door in this condition puts enormous strain on the opener motor and can destroy it quickly. In some cases, the door itself can fall. If you hear a loud bang and your door won't open, or it feels impossibly heavy to lift manually, stop using it and call a professional immediately.
This is not a DIY repair. Garage door springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury if handled without the right tools and training. Even experienced homeowners who are comfortable with basic repairs should leave spring replacement to a certified technician. The risk simply isn't worth it.
Auburndale homes. especially the older Colonials, Cape Cods, and Victorian-era properties near the Auburndale Historic District. often have garages that were added or converted decades after the original construction. This means you'll find a mix of spring systems:
- Torsion springs mount above the door on a horizontal bar. They're more common in newer or updated systems and are generally more durable and safer when they fail (they tend to stay on the shaft rather than flying across the garage). - Extension springs run along the sides of the door, parallel to the horizontal tracks. They're more common in older, smaller garages and can be more dangerous when they snap because they're not always contained.
If you have extension springs and they're more than five years old, it's worth having a technician inspect them before next winter. not after.
You can't stop metal from aging, but you can slow the process and reduce the risk of an inconvenient mid-winter failure.
1. Lubricate your springs in the fall. Use a silicone-based lubricant or a product specifically rated for garage door components. not WD-40, which can actually damage some parts and evaporates too quickly in cold weather. Apply it to the full length of the spring coil. 2. Test the door balance twice a year. Disconnect the opener, lift the door manually to about waist height, and let go. It should stay in place. If it drops or rises on its own, call a technician. 3. Schedule a pre-winter inspection. A technician can check for micro-fractures and worn coils that aren't visible to the untrained eye. Catching a failing spring in October is far less stressful than dealing with it in January. Our fall maintenance guide walks through the full seasonal checklist.
If one spring breaks, the practical advice is to replace both. even if only one has failed. Springs from the same installation age and wear at the same rate. If one has reached the end of its life, the other is close behind. Replacing both at the same time saves you a second service call within a few months.
Homeowners in nearby Waltham and Newton frequently ask whether they can just buy a spring at the hardware store and swap it themselves. Technically the parts are available. But given the tension involved and the precision required to properly wind and set a torsion spring, professional installation isn't just recommended. it's the only approach that makes sense from a safety standpoint.
If you're not sure what condition your springs are in, or if you've already heard warning signs this season, reach out to schedule an inspection before it becomes an emergency.
How long do garage door springs last in Auburndale's climate? Most springs are rated for 10,000 cycles, which works out to roughly 7,10 years of average use. In New England climates like Auburndale's. with cold winters, freeze-thaw cycles, and humid summers. springs at the lower end of that range are more common. If your door gets heavy use or is on the older end, plan for replacement sooner rather than later.
Can I still open my garage door if a spring breaks? Technically yes, but you should not. With a broken spring, the opener is carrying the full weight of the door, which can burn out the motor and potentially cause the door to fall. Disconnect the opener and leave the door closed until a technician can replace the spring. If your car is trapped inside, call for same-day service.
Is it ever okay to just replace one spring instead of both? Most professional technicians recommend replacing both springs at the same time. Since they age together, the second spring is likely to fail soon after the first. Replacing both during the same visit saves on a second service call and keeps your door balanced and operating safely.