2026-03-16 6 min read
There's a particular sound that homeowners in Acushnet describe the same way every time: a loud bang, like a gunshot or a car backfiring, coming from the garage. Then silence. Then they try the opener button and nothing happens. That's what a broken torsion spring sounds like, and it's one of the more jarring home maintenance surprises you can have on a Tuesday morning.
Spring failures are the leading cause of sudden garage door breakdowns in southeastern Massachusetts. Acushnet's winters. with hard freezes, damp air rolling in from the coast, and sharp temperature swings. make spring steel stiffen and fatigue faster than homeowners expect. Knowing the warning signs before you hit that failure point is the difference between a planned, affordable repair and an emergency call while your car is trapped inside.
Torsion springs sit horizontally above the door opening along a steel shaft. They store energy by winding up when the door closes, then release that energy to assist the opener in lifting the door. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door and work by stretching. Both types do the same essential job: counterbalancing the weight of the door so your opener motor doesn't have to do it alone.
Standard springs are rated for approximately 10,000 cycles. one cycle being a full open and close. For a household using the garage two to four times daily, that works out to roughly seven to ten years of service life. If your door is the main entry point for your family (common in Acushnet, where the town is car-dependent and most errands require driving), cycles add up faster than you'd think.
It's also worth noting that cold temperatures make aging springs significantly more brittle. The steel becomes more susceptible to metal fatigue in freezing conditions, which is exactly why spring failures tend to cluster in late winter and early spring. right when the cold has done its worst. Homeowners across Massachusetts see this pattern every year.
If you disconnect the opener and try to lift the door manually, it should feel manageable and stay in place when you let go at mid-height. If it feels like it weighs a ton, or it slides back down on its own, the springs have lost tension. Springs are designed to carry most of the door's weight. when they weaken, that load shifts entirely to your opener motor or to your arms. Continuing to operate the door in this state puts excessive strain on the opener and accelerates further damage.
A balanced door moves smoothly straight up and down. If your door looks crooked while moving, rises unevenly from side to side, or gets stuck partway, one spring may be weaker or fully broken. This uneven tension forces tracks, rollers, cables, and the opener to compensate. and continued use can cause the door to jump off track entirely, turning a spring replacement into a much larger repair bill.
Take a moment to look at your torsion spring above the door. A healthy spring has tight, evenly spaced coils. If you see a visible gap in the coil. even an inch-wide separation. the spring has snapped and needs immediate replacement. Rust and discoloration are also warning signs: a rusty spring is more brittle and prone to sudden failure. Given Acushnet's proximity to the coast and the damp air that comes with it, corrosion on spring coils is more of a concern here than in drier inland areas.
Automatic openers are not designed to lift a door's full weight. they're designed to assist springs in doing that job. If you hear your opener motor straining, making unusual grinding sounds, or if it's stopped lifting the door all the way, failing springs are often the cause. Continuing this way can burn out the motor or strip internal gears. Our motor repair complete guide explains what happens to openers when they're pushed beyond their design limits.
The cables attached to your garage door rely on spring tension to stay taut. When a spring breaks, cables often go slack or hang loose. If you see cable hanging limply on either side of the door, stop using the door immediately and call for service.
Be direct about this: garage door spring replacement is not a DIY project. Springs are under enormous tension. enough that when they snap on their own, they've been known to crack windshields, send tools flying, and punch holes in drywall. Attempting to remove or adjust them without professional tools and training puts you and your family at real risk of serious injury.
When one spring breaks, always replace both at the same time. Springs installed together wear at similar rates, and replacing just one creates uneven tension that accelerates failure of the remaining spring and strains your opener motor. Many homeowners also opt for high-cycle springs at replacement time. these cost more upfront but can double or triple the lifespan, which makes sense if you plan to stay in your home long-term or use the garage door heavily.
If you're in Acushnet or nearby communities like New Bedford or Mattapoisett and you're seeing any of these signs, don't wait for the full failure. Check out our full list of services or reach out to schedule an inspection before a worn spring becomes a crisis.
For context on keeping the rest of your system in good shape seasonally. especially heading into spring and summer. our guide on preparing your garage door for summer is a useful follow-up read.
Q: How do I know if I have torsion springs or extension springs? A: Look above your closed garage door. If there's a single horizontal spring (or two springs side by side) running along a metal shaft directly above the door opening, those are torsion springs. If you see long springs running parallel to the horizontal tracks on the left and right sides of the door, those are extension springs. Torsion springs are more common on newer and heavier doors.
Q: Can I still get my car out if a spring breaks? A: Technically yes, but it's not easy or safe alone. Without spring assist, a standard garage door can weigh 150,400 pounds depending on the material and size. You'd need at least two strong adults to lift it manually while someone drives the car out. A better approach: call Garage Door Acushnet for a same-day or next-day service call rather than risking injury trying to muscle the door open.
Q: My springs are only five years old. Can they really be failing already? A: Yes, depending on usage frequency and conditions. If your garage is the primary entry to your home and you're opening it six or more times a day, a standard 10,000-cycle spring can wear out in five to seven years. Moisture, salt air, and lack of lubrication also shorten spring life considerably. If you're seeing warning signs regardless of age, trust what the door is telling you and have it inspected.