1. Confirm it’s the spring
Look at the metal bar above the closed door. If there’s a gap of a few inches in the coil, the torsion spring has broken. If your springs run along the ceiling tracks on each side, look for one that’s hanging loose or stretched out.
Other clues: a loud bang from the garage, an opener that strains and stops after a few inches, and lift cables hanging slack.
2. Stop using the opener
The opener is built to guide the door, not lift its full weight. Running it against a broken spring can strip the drive gear or burn out the motor, which turns a spring repair into a spring and opener repair. Unplug it if anyone else in the house might press the button.
3. Leave the release cord alone if the door is open
The red emergency release disconnects the door from the opener. With a broken spring, nothing holds the door up once you pull it, and it can come down hard. If the door is closed, leave it closed.
4. If your car is trapped
Don’t try to lift the door with a jack, a pry bar or a group of friends. Say the car is trapped when you call, so the provider can give you the earliest arrival time available.
5. Gather details for the call
- Your address or ZIP code in the Houston area
- Door width and height, if you know them (a standard double door is 16 by 7 feet)
- One spring or two above the door
- Wood or steel door, and whether it’s insulated
- A photo of the broken spring
6. Ask for the price before work starts
A clear quote includes parts, labor and any trip or after-hours fee. Ask whether both springs will be replaced, what cycle rating the new springs have, and what the warranty covers.
Getting a broken spring fixed in Houston, Texas
Garage door spring repair is available across Houston, Texas and nearby cities like Katy, Sugar Land, Cypress, The Woodlands, Pearland and Kingwood. Read more about broken spring repair in Houston, or call to reach a local technician.
More guides for Houston homeowners
- What affects spring repair costWhat changes the price of garage door spring repair in Houston, Texas: spring type, door size, one or two springs, cycle rating, cables and after-hours calls.
- Why springs break early in HoustonHumidity, salt air, heavy daily use and cold snaps all shorten garage door spring life in Houston, Texas. Here’s why, and how to make springs last longer.
- Torsion vs. extension springsHow to tell torsion and extension garage door springs apart, which Houston, Texas homes have each, and whether converting to torsion springs is worth it.
- Opener not working? 7 checksGarage door opener not working in Houston, Texas? Seven quick checks before you call, from safety sensors and lock mode to storm power surges and broken springs.