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Garage Door Spring Repair in San Diego
A broken spring is the #1 garage door emergency we fix. Same-day replacement across San Diego County — both springs, balanced and safety-tested before we leave.
- Same-day service, 7 days a week
- Torsion and extension springs in stock on every truck
- High-cycle spring upgrades available
- Written quote before any work starts
How to tell your spring is broken
The classic sign is a loud bang from the garage — homeowners often mistake it for something falling. After that, the door feels extremely heavy, lifts a few inches then stops, or the opener strains and gives up. Look at the coil above the door: a broken torsion spring shows a clear 2–3 inch gap in the metal.
A crooked door or slack, tangled cables usually means a spring let go on one side. Stop using the door — running the opener against a dead spring burns out the motor and can snap cables.
What we do on a spring call
Your technician measures the wire size, length, and inside diameter of the old spring and matches or upgrades it — a wrong-size spring leaves the door unbalanced and wears out the opener. If your door runs two springs, we replace both: the second spring has the same mileage as the one that just failed and almost always breaks within months.
We then set the torsion balance so the door floats at mid-height, lubricate the springs, bearings, and hinges, and run a full safety-reverse test. Most spring replacements take about an hour.
Torsion vs. extension springs
Torsion springs mount on a bar above the door and do the lifting by twisting — they're standard on most San Diego homes built after the 1980s and last 10,000 cycles (7–10 years of average use). Extension springs stretch along the horizontal tracks on older or low-headroom garages. We stock both, and we add containment cables to extension springs so a future break can't whip through the garage.
Why springs fail early in San Diego
Two local culprits: salt air and builder-grade parts. Within a few miles of the coast, moisture corrodes the spring's steel and cuts its life well below the rated 10,000 cycles. And many tract homes were built with the cheapest spring that met spec — if your neighbors' doors are failing, yours is next. A high-cycle (25,000+) upgrade costs a little more once and roughly triples the service life.
What it typically costs
| Single torsion spring, installed | $180 – $280 |
| Pair of torsion springs, installed | $240 – $400 |
| Extension spring pair, installed | $160 – $300 |
| High-cycle upgrade (per spring) | + $40 – $80 |
Typical San Diego pricing including parts and labor. You get a written quote before any work starts — the quote is the price.
Straight answers to common questions
Can I still use my garage door with a broken spring?
No — stop using it. The spring does almost all the lifting, so the opener is now dragging a 150–250 lb door on its own. You'll burn out the opener motor, snap cables, or the door can slam shut. Pull the red release cord only if the door is already down, and call us.
Should I replace both springs or just the broken one?
Both, if your door has two. They were installed the same day and have identical wear, so the survivor usually breaks within a few months — and you'd pay a second service call for a $60 part. We replace pairs at a discounted combined rate.
How much does garage door spring replacement cost in San Diego?
Most jobs land between $180 and $400 installed, depending on spring size and whether you replace one or both. Oversized doors and high-cycle springs cost more. You'll get the exact number in writing before we touch the door.
How long does the repair take?
About an hour for a standard replacement, including balancing and a safety check. We carry the common San Diego spring sizes on the truck, so there's usually no second trip.
Can I replace a garage door spring myself?
We'd advise against it. A wound torsion spring stores enough energy to break a hand or worse, and it's the one garage door job that sends DIYers to the ER. The winding bars, spring sizing, and balancing are exactly what you're paying a pro for.
Where we work
Same-day service across San Diego County: Chula Vista · El Cajon · La Mesa · Escondido · Oceanside · Carlsbad · all service areas.