2026-04-16 7 min read
If you've ever walked into your garage on a Tuesday morning, hit the opener button, and heard nothing but a loud bang followed by silence. you've probably snapped a spring. It's one of the most common garage door failures we see in Malabar, and it catches homeowners completely off guard every time. The good news is it's fixable. The not-so-good news is it's not a DIY job.
Malabar is a rural, spread-out community in southern Brevard County. and most of the homes here have attached garages. Whether you're out near the equestrian estates west of US-1, over in the Rocky Point riverfront community, or in one of the newer builds going up near Three Forks conservation area, your garage door is doing a lot of work in Florida's tough climate. Hot, humid summers and salty air from the nearby Indian River put real stress on metal components. springs included.
Your garage door isn't lifted by the opener motor alone. The torsion or extension springs do the heavy lifting. they're wound under enormous tension to counterbalance the weight of the door. The opener just guides the process. When a spring breaks, the opener suddenly has to do all the work alone. and it can't. That's why a broken spring typically means a door that won't open at all, or one that opens a few inches and stops.
There are two types you'll find on Malabar homes:
These are mounted horizontally above the door opening on a metal rod. Most modern garage doors. including the heavier insulated and hurricane-rated doors that are increasingly common in Brevard County. use torsion springs. They're more durable, safer when they fail, and generally last 10,000,20,000 open/close cycles, or roughly 7,15 years depending on use.
These run along the sides of the door tracks and stretch to create tension. They're common on older homes and lighter doors. They're less expensive to replace but have a shorter lifespan. typically 4,10 years. and when they snap, they can fly across the garage with serious force. If your home still has extension springs, ask about adding safety cables at the same time you replace them.
Springs rarely give you a dramatic warning before they go. but there are a few clues to catch early:
- The door feels unusually heavy when you try to lift it manually - The door jerks or moves unevenly when opening - You hear loud creaking or grinding during operation - The door won't stay open at waist height. it slowly falls back down - You can see a visible gap in the spring coil (this means it's already broken)
If you see any of these signs, check out our guide to warning signs your garage door needs professional repair for a fuller checklist before calling a technician.
Here's the honest breakdown. Spring replacement typically runs $150 to $400 for most residential jobs, depending on the spring type, door size, and whether both springs need replacing. Torsion spring replacement tends to cost more. often $250 to $450. while extension springs are generally on the lower end.
In Florida, regional totals for a single spring coil often land around $350, with dual-spring setups running higher depending on labor and any add-on repairs found during the visit. A few things that push the price up:
- Double-car doors need larger, heavier springs. expect to pay $15,$30 more per spring - Emergency or after-hours calls always carry a premium - Converting from extension to torsion springs is a bigger job. typically $400 to $800. but worth considering if you're upgrading to a heavier door
One important note: if one spring breaks, strongly consider replacing both at the same time. Springs wear at the same rate, so if one fails, the other isn't far behind. Replacing both during one visit saves you a second service call. and protects your opener from the strain of working with an unbalanced door.
This isn't a scare tactic. it's just reality. Garage door springs are under hundreds of pounds of tension. A spring that releases suddenly during removal can cause serious injury. The tools required to safely wind and unwind torsion springs aren't standard household equipment, and even experienced homeowners who attempt this job can make a mistake that damages the door, the opener, or worse.
Leave this one to a licensed technician. A professional visit typically wraps up in under two hours, includes a safety check of the full system, and often comes with a warranty on parts and labor. That's worth the cost.
For a look at our full range of spring and repair services, visit our garage door services page.
Malabar's summers are long, hot, and humid. with temperatures routinely climbing into the upper 80s. and the proximity to the Indian River means salt-laden air is a real factor, especially for homes closer to the water. That combination accelerates corrosion on metal springs.
A few things you can do:
1. Lubricate springs every six months using a garage-door-specific spray lubricant (not WD-40) 2. Visually inspect springs each season for rust, gaps, or uneven coiling 3. Keep the garage temperature stable where possible. a well-insulated door helps 4. Schedule annual professional maintenance to catch wear before it becomes a breakdown
For the full picture on keeping your system in shape year-round, our garage door maintenance tips post covers what to check and when.
How long do garage door springs last in Florida's climate? Torsion springs typically last 7,15 years or 10,000,20,000 cycles. Florida's heat and humidity can accelerate corrosion and wear, so Malabar homeowners should plan for inspections starting around the 7-year mark. sooner if the garage is uninsulated or near the water.
Can I still use my garage if a spring is broken? Technically, your opener may still try to run, but we strongly advise against it. Operating the door with a broken spring puts excessive strain on the opener motor and can damage cables, drums, and the trolley. It also creates a safety risk. Disconnect the opener and call a technician as soon as possible.
Should I replace both springs even if only one broke? Yes. almost universally. Both springs wear at the same rate, so if one breaks, the other is likely close behind. Replacing both at once saves you a second service call and keeps the door balanced, which protects every other component in the system.