2026-04-12 7 min read
If you've ever heard a loud bang from your garage early in the morning, only to find your door won't budge, you already know what a broken spring feels like. It's one of the most jarring. and unfortunately common. problems for homeowners in Cohasset and across the South Shore. The good news: it's fixable. The bad news: it's not a DIY project.
Cohasset's coastal climate plays a bigger role in spring wear than most people realize. With an average of nearly 50 inches of snow per year and consistently high humidity. especially in June when relative humidity averages its peak. the metal hardware on your garage door takes a beating year-round. Salt air drifting in from the harbor and Little Harbor inlet accelerates corrosion on springs, cables, and hinges faster than you'd see in an inland town like Norwell or Hanover. If you're not staying on top of lubrication and annual inspections, your springs may fail years ahead of their rated lifespan.
Most residential garage doors use one of two spring systems: torsion springs (mounted horizontally above the door opening on a metal rod) or extension springs (mounted along the tracks on either side of the door). Both systems store mechanical energy to help counterbalance the weight of the door. without them, your opener would be trying to lift a 150,300 pound slab on its own.
Springs are rated by cycles. one cycle equals the door going up and then back down. Standard springs are typically rated for around 10,000 cycles, which translates to roughly 7,10 years of normal use for most families. High-cycle springs rated for 25,000 cycles or more are available and last significantly longer. a worthwhile upgrade, especially given how hard the coastal environment is on metal components.
Don't wait for the loud bang. These are the signs to watch for before a spring fully breaks:
- The door feels unusually heavy when you try to lift it manually. A properly balanced door should feel like about 10,15 pounds. If it feels much heavier, your springs are losing tension. - The door won't stay open on its own when lifted halfway. Release it and it drifts back down. that's a spring struggling to hold tension. - Visible gaps in the coil. Healthy torsion spring coils sit tightly together. If you can see a gap in the coil, the spring has already failed or is on the verge of it. - The opener strains or stops mid-cycle. Your opener isn't designed to compensate for a failing spring. When the motor is working overtime, damage to the opener motor can follow quickly. - Squeaking or grinding sounds during operation can indicate the springs need lubrication. but if oiling doesn't help, replacement may not be far off.
For a broader look at what physical wear from our local environment does to garage door hardware, our post on coastal salt air damage and your garage door is worth reading alongside this one.
Massachusetts homeowners typically pay in the range of $200,$350 for a spring replacement job, though the final number depends on your door size, spring type, and whether additional hardware like cables needs attention at the same time. Coastal areas. including Cohasset, Scituate, and Hull. sometimes run slightly higher due to the need for corrosion-resistant hardware and the wear patterns that make full inspections more involved.
One important note on pricing: always replace springs in pairs. Springs age together, so if one breaks, the other is likely close behind. Replacing both at once saves you a second service call. and a second labor charge. within months.
High-cycle springs cost more upfront but can last 15,20 years versus 7,10 for standard springs. Given how aggressively coastal moisture shortens hardware life, the upgrade often makes sense for Cohasset homeowners.
Garage door springs are under extreme tension. enough stored energy to cause serious injury or death if mishandled. The force of a spring releasing unexpectedly can be several times the weight of your door. Professional technicians use calibrated winding bars, safety equipment, and the kind of hands-on experience that lets them spot secondary issues. frayed cables, worn drums, misaligned hardware. that a homeowner would likely miss.
Simply put: the money saved by attempting a DIY spring replacement is not worth the risk. This is one repair where calling a professional is the only sensible choice.
A proper spring replacement takes roughly 45,90 minutes and includes more than just swapping out the spring itself. A good technician will:
1. Inspect and replace both springs (not just the broken one) 2. Check cables, drums, and bottom brackets for wear 3. Test door balance by disconnecting the opener and manually lifting the door 4. Lubricate all moving parts 5. Reconnect and test the opener through several full cycles
If your cables are frayed or your door has been running out of balance for a while, it's worth asking about those items during the same visit. bundling repairs saves money and avoids follow-up calls.
Cohasset Garage Doors handles spring replacements throughout Cohasset and the surrounding South Shore communities. You can review what's included in our work on the services page, or head straight to schedule a visit if your door is already showing signs of trouble.
If your springs are failing on a door that's more than 15 years old, it's worth having an honest conversation about whether the rest of the system is due for attention too. Old torsion bars, worn rollers, and outdated hardware all add friction and stress to the system. Sometimes replacing the springs on an aging door is like putting new tires on a car that needs a lot more work.
That said, if your door is structurally sound and you simply need springs, a quality replacement with high-cycle hardware will serve you well for another decade or more. especially if you commit to annual lubrication and a seasonal maintenance routine.
Q: How do I know if I have torsion springs or extension springs? A: Look above the door opening when the door is closed. If you see a horizontal spring (or two) running along a metal rod above the door, those are torsion springs. If you see springs running along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door, those are extension springs. Torsion springs are more common in newer installations and are generally considered safer and longer-lasting.
Q: Can I still use my garage door if a spring breaks? A: Technically, some openers will attempt to operate with a broken spring, but doing so risks burning out your opener motor and can make the door unsafe to operate. If you suspect a broken spring, disconnect the opener and leave the door in place until a technician can assess it.
Q: How often should garage door springs be lubricated in a coastal area like Cohasset? A: For most inland homes, once a year is sufficient. Given Cohasset's salt air and high seasonal humidity, lubricating springs and other metal hardware two to three times per year. using a lithium-based or silicone lubricant. helps slow corrosion and extend spring life noticeably.