That loud BANG from the garage — like a firecracker or a gunshot — is a sound almost every homeowner remembers. It’s usually a garage door torsion spring letting go. If it just happened to you, here’s exactly what to do, what it’ll cost, and how to pick the right company to fix it.
1) Stop — don’t lift the door by hand
Your garage door weighs 150–350 pounds, and the springs are what make it feel light. With a spring broken, all of that weight is real — and the door can slam down. Don’t try to force it open, and don’t park under a half-open door.
2) Don’t keep hitting the opener
A garage door opener is built to move a spring-balanced door, not to dead-lift the whole weight. Running it against a broken spring can burn out the motor or strip the gears — turning a spring repair into a spring-and-opener repair. One or two tries to confirm it won’t move is fine; after that, leave it.
3) Know why it broke
Springs are rated in cycles — one up-and-down is a cycle. A standard spring is often rated around 10,000 cycles, which for a busy family can be roughly 7 years. Cold Ohio winters, rust, and everyday use all shorten that life. If your door has two springs and one broke, the other is near the end too — which is why pros replace them in pairs.
4) What it costs — and why we quote it on the phone
Spring price depends on the type (torsion vs. extension), the size, and whether it’s one spring or two. We give you the number before we drive out — no “diagnosis fee,” no renegotiating in your driveway. That phone-first honesty is a big part of why we’ve earned 1,800+ five-star reviews.
5) Please don’t DIY this one
We’re all for homeowners fixing what they safely can — but torsion springs are the exception. They’re wound under extreme tension, the hardware is unforgiving, and the ER visits are real. A trained tech has the winding bars, the right-size spring, and the experience to do it in under an hour. See our garage door spring repair page for how it works.
6) How to choose the right company
When you’re calling around after a spring breaks, look for: a real human on the phone (not a bot), same-day availability, an upfront price, and a wall of genuine local reviews. You want someone who’ll be around next year if you need them.
Proactive Garage Door Repair has replaced thousands of springs across Cleveland, Akron, and Canton since 2007. If yours just went, call 440-876-4444 — we answer 24/7, quote the price on the phone, and most spring repairs are done the same day. In a bind after hours? We also offer 24/7 emergency garage door repair.