2026-09-01 4 min read
A customer called last Tuesday morning. His door wouldn't budge. One look at the garage and I saw it immediately: a snapped torsion spring hanging limp above the door. He'd heard a loud bang the night before but thought nothing of it. By morning, 400 pounds of dead weight sat on his driveway. This happens more often than you'd think in Milliken, and the fix isn't cheap or quick. Here's what you need to know about garage door springs before yours fails.
Garage doors rely on two main types of springs: torsion and extension. Most modern homes use torsion springs, which sit above the door on a shaft and twist to counterbalance the door's weight. Extension springs hang on the sides and stretch to do the same job.
Springs fail for three reasons. First, they simply wear out. Torsion springs last 7 to 9 years under normal use, roughly 10,000 to 15,000 cycles. That's about 10 to 12 years for an average household. Second, lack of lubrication speeds corrosion and friction. Third, a sudden jolt or impact can snap them instantly, especially if the spring was already weakened.
Colorado's dry climate and temperature swings work against your springs. Winter cold makes metal brittle. Summer heat stresses the coils. If you live in or near Boulder, you know how intense our weather swings get. Milliken sits right in that zone. The constant expansion and contraction adds years of wear in just months.
A snapped spring repair runs between $250 and $400 for a single torsion spring, or $300 to $500 for both if you're smart and replace them as a pair. Most techs recommend replacing both at the same time. Why? If one spring is old enough to snap, the other is right behind it. You don't want to call us back in three weeks for the second one.
Extension springs cost slightly less per spring, but they're rarer on newer doors. Labor is the bulk of the bill. This isn't a DIY job. I've seen too many homeowners try it. A wound torsion spring under tension can snap with enough force to cause serious injury. Let us handle it.
**Need garage door springs in Milliken today?** Call (720) 408-6434. We cover same-day service across the area.
If you want to avoid this cost entirely, preventive maintenance is your best bet. Regular lubrication, visual inspections, and addressing small issues before they become big ones saves money in the long run. We've written about garage door maintenance at length. Check out our guide to why your tune-up can save thousands.
The door feels heavier than normal. Your opener strains harder to lift it. You hear creaking or squeaking from above. These are early warning signs. A slow leak in spring tension is your friend. It gives you time to call for an estimate before you're locked out.
If you notice these symptoms, don't wait. Contact us for a free inspection. We'll tell you exactly what we find and what the repair will cost. No surprises. No upsell. Just honest advice from someone who's been doing this for 15 years.
Our garage door repair troubleshooting guide covers other common issues too, but springs deserve their own attention because they're the most critical component on your door.
If your spring is already snapped, you're not using that door until it's fixed. Call us immediately. We offer same-day service for Milliken and surrounding areas. Many shops take 3 to 5 days. We know you need your door back in action.
When you call, have your door's age and model handy if possible. That helps us estimate the cost before we arrive. We'll schedule a free quote and give you a firm price for both the repair and the visit.
Springs are one of the few garage door parts where delaying costs you more. A broken spring doesn't fix itself. It doesn't get cheaper. It just sits there, making your door useless. The sooner you address it, the sooner life returns to normal.
How long do garage door springs last? Torsion springs last 7 to 9 years under normal use, roughly 10,000 to 15,000 cycles. Extension springs have similar lifespans. Climate and maintenance affect actual longevity. Regular lubrication can extend the life by 1 to 2 years.
Can I replace one spring instead of both? Technically yes, but we don't recommend it. If one spring is old enough to fail, the other is near the end of its life too. Replacing both at once costs slightly more upfront but saves you a second service call and repair bill within weeks.
What's the difference between torsion and extension springs? Torsion springs twist on a shaft above the door. Extension springs stretch on the sides. Torsion is more common on modern doors and safer to work with. Both do the same job: balance the door's weight so the opener doesn't strain.
Is a snapped spring an emergency? Yes. Your door won't open or close safely. The opener can't lift a door without spring support. Call immediately. We handle emergency garage door service across Milliken and can often dispatch same-day.
How much does spring replacement cost near me? Single spring repairs run $250 to $400. Both springs together cost $300 to $500 plus labor. Get a free estimate by calling (720) 408-6434 or visiting our services page.