The bang, the stuck door, the car trapped inside: here's the safe playbook.
It usually happens with a bang like a gunshot — then the door won't budge, or your opener strains and gives up. A broken torsion or extension spring is the single most common garage door failure, and what you do in the next ten minutes matters.
A standard double-car door weighs 150+ pounds without spring assistance. Forcing it risks the door crashing down, bent tracks, a burned-out opener, or a serious hand injury. If your car is trapped inside, it's frustrating — but it's not worth a crushed hand.
Torsion springs store enough energy to cause severe injury, and the internet is full of confident bad advice. Correct sizing, winding, and tensioning require training and proper tools. Spring replacement is a fast professional job — not a weekend project.
If the door is partially open, don't walk under it. If it's closed, leave it closed. Unplug the opener so nobody hits the button and burns out the motor trying to lift a dead-weight door.
This is a routine call for us. Most spring replacements are finished in under an hour, and we replace both springs as a matched pair — because the second spring has lived the same life as the broken one, and doing both now costs far less than a second visit in three months.
Pricing depends on spring type (torsion vs. extension), door weight, and whether one or both springs are replaced. We inspect free and quote one flat rate in writing before any work begins — you approve the exact price first.
Sometimes it's physically possible, but we strongly advise against it — 150+ pounds of unbalanced door can slam down without warning. Leave it and call for same-day service.
Usually under an hour, and most jobs are completed the same day you call.
Yes. The surviving spring has endured the same cycles as the broken one. Replacing the pair in one visit costs far less than two separate calls.
Call now and talk to a real garage door specialist. Same-day appointments available across California.
Call (210) 964-8892