2026-03-19 6 min read
There's a particular sound a broken garage door spring makes. a loud bang, almost like a gunshot, usually in the middle of the night. The next morning, you hit the button and the door barely moves, or it goes up a few inches and stops. For a lot of Moreno Valley homeowners, this is the moment they discover their garage door springs exist at all.
Springs are the unsung workhorse of any garage door system. They bear the weight of the door. often 200 to 400 pounds. and allow your opener motor to do its job without burning itself out. When a spring breaks, the whole system is compromised. Here's what you need to know.
Garage door springs don't last forever. They're rated by cycle count: every time your door goes up and down, that's one cycle. Most residential torsion springs are rated for 10,000 to 20,000 cycles, roughly 7 to 15 years of normal use. Extension springs typically last 5,000 to 15,000 cycles.
In Moreno Valley's climate, a few things accelerate wear. The city's significant temperature swings. summer highs pushing past 94°F and winter nights dipping into the low 40s. cause the metal to expand and contract repeatedly, adding stress to the coils over time. Lack of lubrication makes it worse, as dry metal wears faster and is more prone to fatigue cracks. If your springs have never been lubricated since the home was built in Sunnymead Ranch or over in the Towngate neighborhood, you're already behind.
Broken springs are also more common in households where the garage is the primary entry point to the home. which, given that most Moreno Valley residents rely entirely on their vehicles for daily errands and commuting, is the majority of households. Heavy daily use shortens the cycle life fast.
Torsion springs mount horizontally above the garage door opening and coil around a metal rod. They're the more common type in newer Moreno Valley homes and are generally considered safer and more durable. Most last 7 to 15 years and 10,000 to 20,000 cycles.
Extension springs run alongside the horizontal tracks on each side of the door and stretch as the door closes. They're typically found in older homes and are less expensive upfront, but they have shorter lifespans and pose a greater safety risk if they snap. a broken extension spring can fly across the garage with significant force.
If your home was built in the 1980s. which covers a substantial portion of Moreno Valley's Cloverdale and Edgemont neighborhoods. there's a reasonable chance you still have extension springs. When they need replacement, it's worth asking about upgrading to a torsion system for better long-term safety. Understand the full picture by reviewing what the warning signs look like before a spring fully breaks.
Here's an honest breakdown based on current California pricing:
- Extension spring replacement: roughly $120,$200 per job, including parts and labor - Torsion spring replacement: typically $150,$350 per door, including parts and labor - Replacing both springs on a single door (always recommended): $200,$400 in most cases - Converting from extension to torsion: $400,$800, which covers new hardware, installation, and the added complexity of the conversion
A few factors push costs higher: if your door is a double-wide (common in Rancho Belago and other newer Moreno Valley developments with three-car garages), if you need an emergency or same-day repair, or if your cables and hardware also need replacement at the same time.
One important note: always replace both springs at the same time, even if only one is visibly broken. Springs are installed in pairs and experience identical wear. When one goes, the other is close behind. replacing them together saves you a second service call within months and keeps the door balanced.
This is not standard DIY caution. Garage door springs are under enormous tension. they're what makes a 300-pound door feel light when you lift it by hand. A torsion spring that snaps during installation can cause serious injury or worse. Replacing them requires specialized winding bars, proper torque calculations based on door weight, and experience handling components that can release with tremendous force.
The cost of professional replacement is not that much more than the parts alone once you account for tools and the very real risk involved. Contact a qualified technician. the peace of mind is worth it. You can also check our FAQ page for common questions about what's included in a spring replacement service call.
Don't wait for the loud bang. Watch for these indicators:
- The door moves unevenly or jerks during operation, It feels heavier than usual when lifted manually, You can see a visible gap or separation in a torsion spring coil, The door opens a few inches and stops or reverses - You hear squeaking or grinding during operation, The top section of the door looks bent or bowed. a sign the opener is straining against a failing spring
If you're seeing any of these, don't ignore them. A spring working on borrowed time puts extra strain on your opener motor, cables, and tracks. What starts as a $200 spring replacement can turn into a $600+ repair if the opener burns out or cables snap.
Garage Door Moreno Valley handles spring replacements throughout the area, including customers in Riverside and surrounding Inland Empire communities. If you're unsure whether your springs are the issue, a quick inspection will give you a clear answer. Learn more about our available services or get in touch to schedule a visit.
Q: How do I know if I have torsion or extension springs? A: Look above your garage door when it's closed. If you see a single horizontal spring coiled around a metal bar running across the top of the opening, that's a torsion spring. If you see springs running along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door, those are extension springs.
Q: Can I use my garage door with a broken spring? A: Technically the door may still move, but you shouldn't. Operating a door with a broken spring puts extreme stress on the opener motor and cables, which can cause additional failures. It also creates a safety hazard. a door under uneven tension can drop unexpectedly.
Q: How long does a spring replacement take? A: For a standard residential torsion spring replacement, a professional technician typically completes the job in 45 minutes to an hour and a half. If cables or other hardware also need replacement, plan for a bit longer.