2026-04-17 7 min read
If your garage door suddenly refuses to open, feels unusually heavy, or makes a loud bang in the middle of the night, there's a good chance a spring just gave out. It's one of the most common calls we get here in Hollywood. and it's also one of the most misunderstood repairs homeowners face. Spring replacement isn't glamorous, but understanding it can save you money, prevent injuries, and help you avoid getting your car trapped in the garage on a Tuesday morning.
Spring failure happens everywhere, but it happens faster in South Florida. Hollywood sits right on the Atlantic coast, and that combination of salt air and year-round humidity is genuinely brutal on metal components. The salt acts as a catalyst that dramatically accelerates the rusting process. essentially eating through a spring's protective coating and the steel itself, slashing its expected lifespan. Meanwhile, high humidity means springs are rarely fully dry, which accelerates corrosion even further.
In inland cities like Pembroke Pines or Weston, a standard torsion spring might comfortably last 7,10 years. In Hollywood's coastal zip codes. especially in neighborhoods like Hollywood Lakes, Hollywood Beach, or anywhere east of I-95. that same spring can show significant corrosion in as little as 4,5 years. If your home was built in the 1950s or '60s (and plenty of them were, from Emerald Hills to the historic grid neighborhoods downtown), there's a real chance the springs on your door have never been replaced.
There are two main spring systems you'll find on residential garage doors:
Torsion springs mount horizontally above the garage door opening and use torque to lift the door. They're stronger, last longer, and distribute force more evenly. Most modern and heavier doors use them.
Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door. They stretch and contract with each cycle. They're less expensive but tend to wear out faster. and when they snap, they can become a serious projectile hazard if not equipped with safety cables.
For Hollywood homeowners dealing with heavier hurricane-rated doors, torsion springs are almost always the right choice. Heavier doors put more strain on springs, and the last thing you want is an undersized spring failing under load during or after a storm.
Don't wait for an audible snap at 2 a.m. Watch for these warning signs:
- The door won't open or stops halfway. Without working springs, your opener may strain and still fail to lift the door. - Visible gaps in torsion springs. A broken torsion spring will have a clear gap between its coils. the spring has physically separated. - Rust or surface discoloration. Look for reddish-brown flaking on the coils. Even small amounts of rust weaken the spring's flexibility and increase breakage risk. - A loud bang from the garage. Many homeowners describe a broken spring as sounding like a gunshot inside the garage. That's not an exaggeration. - The door feels unusually heavy when lifted manually. Springs counterbalance the door's weight. Without them working properly, you'll feel all of it.
If you're unsure what you're looking at, our frequently asked questions page covers a number of common spring and opener questions that might help clarify things before you call.
For a single-door replacement in the Fort Lauderdale and Broward County area, expect to pay roughly $200,$330 depending on the spring type and whether additional components need attention. Torsion springs cost more to replace than extension springs, but they last longer. making them the better long-term value, especially in our coastal environment.
One important thing: always replace both springs at the same time, even if only one has broken. Springs are installed in pairs and experience the same wear and tear. When one fails, the other is likely not far behind. Replacing both together saves you a second service call within months and protects against uneven tension that can damage your opener or cables.
While you're scheduling the repair, it's also worth asking the technician to check your cables. Frayed or corroded cables are another common issue in Hollywood's climate, and cable repairs typically run $150,$200. much cheaper to address proactively than after a failure.
We get it. the YouTube tutorials make it look straightforward. It isn't. Garage door springs are under extreme tension at all times, and a mistake during installation or adjustment can cause the spring to snap and release that tension instantly. The result can be serious injury or significant damage to the door, vehicle, or garage structure.
Beyond the safety risk, installing the wrong spring for your door's weight and size causes its own problems. An incorrectly sized spring will either fail prematurely or force your opener to work harder than it was designed to. shortening its lifespan. A trained technician measures the door and selects the right spring spec before touching anything.
If you want to extend spring life between professional visits, there are a few things you *can* safely do yourself:
- Apply a silicone-based lubricant (not WD-40, which strips protective coatings) to the springs every 3,4 months. In Hollywood's coastal environment, the standard twice-a-year schedule isn't enough. - Rinse the springs and tracks with fresh water monthly to wash away salt deposits, then dry them thoroughly. - When replacement time comes, ask your technician about galvanized or powder-coated torsion springs. they offer significantly better corrosion resistance in our environment.
For a full picture of what good ongoing care looks like, the salt air and humidity maintenance guide on this site is worth reading before your next service visit.
If you've noticed any of the warning signs above, don't put it off. A door with a failing spring is unpredictable. it can come down unexpectedly and cause serious damage or injury. Hollywood Garage Doors serves Hollywood and surrounding Broward County communities and can typically get a technician out quickly for spring replacements and inspections.
Schedule a service call and mention whether you're seeing visible rust, hearing unusual sounds, or dealing with a door that won't open fully. The more detail you provide upfront, the faster the repair goes.
Q: Can I still use my garage door if a spring is broken? A: You shouldn't. A broken spring creates an unbalanced door that can move suddenly and dangerously. It also puts serious strain on your opener motor every time you try to operate it, which can turn a $250 spring repair into a much more expensive opener replacement. Disconnect the opener and leave the door closed until a technician arrives.
Q: How long should garage door springs last in Hollywood, FL? A: In ideal inland conditions, torsion springs typically last 7,10 years or around 10,000 cycles. In Hollywood's coastal environment. with salt air and year-round humidity. plan for the lower end of that range, and inspect springs annually for early signs of rust or corrosion. Upgrading to high-cycle or galvanized springs can add meaningful years of service life.
Q: My spring just broke at night. Should I wait until morning to call? A: For safety, yes. leave the door alone and don't attempt to manually lift it with a broken spring. Trying to force an unbalanced door can cause injury or damage the panels and tracks. Call first thing in the morning, or check if same-day service is available through our services page.