2026-04-18 7 min read
If you've ever walked out to your garage on a cold Ashland morning and found the door completely dead. won't budge, opener straining, nothing. there's a very good chance a spring just gave out. It happens here more than most homeowners realize, and the timing is almost always the worst possible moment.
Ashland sits in the heart of New Hampshire's Lakes Region, and the climate is no joke. Winters routinely bring temperatures below 12°F, with January averages barely breaking the mid-20s during the day. That kind of sustained cold is hard on metal. Springs that were already cycling through wear become brittle, lose tension faster, and tend to snap during the coldest stretches. often first thing in the morning when the metal is at its most stressed.
Understanding what's actually going on with your springs before something goes wrong is the smartest move an Ashland homeowner can make.
Your garage door weighs anywhere from 150 to 300 pounds depending on the material and whether it's insulated. The springs are what make it possible to lift that weight without destroying your opener motor. or your back. They store mechanical energy when the door closes and release it when the door opens, counterbalancing the door's weight.
There are two main types:
- Torsion springs mount horizontally above the door opening. They're the more common setup on modern homes and tend to last longer. typically 10,000 to 20,000 cycles, or roughly 8 to 15 years with average use. - Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door. They're less expensive but have shorter lifespans, usually 5,000 to 15,000 cycles.
Many older homes in Ashland. particularly the colonial-style and cape-style houses you'll find scattered through the village and along routes heading toward Holderness and Meredith. were built with extension spring systems. If your home is more than 20 years old and hasn't had spring work done, it's worth having someone take a look.
Don't wait for a loud bang to tell you something's wrong. Here are the warning signs most homeowners miss:
Disconnect the opener and try lifting the door manually. A properly balanced door should feel like roughly 10 to 15 pounds of resistance. If it feels like you're lifting a truck, the springs are losing tension and no longer doing their job.
Lift the door to about waist height and let go. A balanced door stays put. If it drifts back down toward the floor, the spring tension is off. a classic sign of wear.
Look at the spring above your door. The coils should be tightly wound and touching each other. Visible gaps in the coil mean the spring is near or at failure. Don't ignore this one.
If your opener motor sounds like it's working harder than usual, or if the door reverses partway through opening, the opener is likely compensating for lost spring tension. That extra strain shortens the life of your opener significantly.
This is a fully broken spring. The sound is unmistakable. like a gunshot from inside the garage. If this happens, stop using the door immediately. A broken spring makes the door unsafe to operate.
Spring replacement is one of the more consistent repair costs in the garage door world. Most homeowners in the region can expect to pay $150 to $350 for a single spring replacement, with the final number depending on the type of spring, door size, and whether additional hardware needs attention. If you need both springs replaced. which is almost always the right call. budget accordingly, since replacing both at once typically costs only marginally more than doing one at a time.
Why replace both? Because springs are installed in pairs and experience identical wear. When one snaps, the other is usually close behind. Doing them together saves on a second service call and keeps your door balanced. You can learn more about what drives overall garage door repair and parts costs in our breakdown guide.
One thing to watch out for: quotes that seem unusually low. A spring replacement that comes in well under the normal range often means low-cycle springs that'll fail again in a year or two, or a technician skipping the cable and hardware inspection that should accompany any spring job.
This is one repair where the answer is clear: call a professional. Garage door springs store an enormous amount of energy. enough to lift a 250-pound door thousands of times over. When that energy releases unexpectedly, the results can be severe. Torsion springs in particular require calibrated winding bars and proper technique to install safely. The risk simply isn't worth the savings.
Garage Door Ashland handles spring replacements throughout the area, including service calls out toward Plymouth and Campton. If you're ready to get it looked at, you can schedule a service visit and get a real estimate without any pressure.
For homeowners who want to extend spring life as long as possible, annual lubrication with a quality garage door lubricant (not WD-40) and a seasonal inspection checklist go a long way. especially heading into and out of a Lakes Region winter.
Q: Can I still open my garage door if a spring is broken?
Technically yes, but you shouldn't. Without a functioning spring, the door's full weight falls on the opener motor, which can burn it out. The door can also drop unexpectedly, which is a serious safety hazard. Disconnect the opener, use the emergency release cord, and lift manually only if absolutely necessary. and even then, with caution.
Q: How long does spring replacement take?
For a straightforward torsion spring replacement on a standard single or double door, most professional technicians can complete the job in one to two hours. If cables, drums, or other hardware also need attention, add a bit more time.
Q: Should I replace both springs even if only one broke?
Yes, almost always. Springs in a pair wear at the same rate. If one has failed, the other is typically near the end of its service life as well. Replacing both during the same visit saves on labor and prevents you from dealing with another breakdown a few months down the road.