2026-04-19 7 min read
If you walked into your garage one morning and found the door sitting dead at the bottom. or heard a loud bang that sounded like a gunshot. there's a good chance a garage door spring just let go. It's one of the most common calls we get from homeowners in Howey-in-the-Hills, and it happens more often than people expect in our Central Florida climate.
Howey-in-the-Hills sits in a humid subtropical climate zone, with hot, humid summers and mild but occasionally cool winters. That combination of year-round humidity and seasonal temperature swings puts real stress on the metal components of your garage door system. especially the springs. If your home is in an established neighborhood like Venezia South (where many homes date back to the 1950s and '60s) or a newer community like Talichet, the spring situation can look very different, but the Florida climate affects both equally.
Garage door springs do one job: they counterbalance the weight of the door so your opener motor (or your arms, if you're lifting manually) doesn't have to do all the work. A standard sectional garage door can weigh anywhere from 130 to over 200 pounds. Without properly tensioned springs, that weight falls on the opener. and eventually, on you.
There are two types of springs you'll find on residential garage doors:
- Torsion springs sit on a metal bar directly above the door opening. They twist to store energy and release it in a controlled way. They're the modern standard and last longer. - Extension springs run along the sides of the door on the horizontal tracks. They stretch and contract as the door moves. You'll find these more often on older homes. including some of the mid-century properties near Little Lake Harris.
Springs don't always break with a bang. Often they give you hints first. Watch for these:
- The door feels unusually heavy when you lift it manually, The door opens a few inches then stops, You hear loud creaking, grinding, or squealing during operation, The door closes faster than normal or slams down, You notice a visible gap in the spring coil above the door, The opener strains or the motor sounds labored
Any of these symptoms, especially in a home that sees our Lake County humidity day in and day out, should prompt a call before a full failure leaves your car trapped inside.
High moisture levels cause metal parts like springs, rollers, and hinges to rust and corrode faster than in drier parts of the country. In Howey-in-the-Hills, where the air rolling off Little Lake Harris keeps humidity consistently high, unlubricated springs can develop surface rust within a season or two. When Florida's occasional cool fronts push through in winter, metal parts contract. and any hidden wear that built up over the summer can suddenly reveal itself as a snap or a stuck door.
The lesson: regular lubrication and inspection go a long way toward getting the full life out of your springs. Most torsion springs are rated for 10,000 to 20,000 cycles (one cycle = one open and one close). At four cycles per day, that's roughly 7 to 14 years. but Florida humidity can shorten that window significantly without proper maintenance.
Here's the honest breakdown. Spring replacement in 2025 and 2026 typically runs $150 to $400 for most residential doors, with the average landing around $250. The main variables:
- Spring type: Torsion spring replacement generally costs $75,$150 per spring including labor. Extension springs run $50,$100 each. - Door size: Double-car garage doors need heavier-duty springs, which cost $15,$30 more per spring. - Replacing both at once: If one spring breaks and the other is the same age, most technicians. including the team at Garage Door Howey In The Hills. will recommend replacing both. It costs a little more upfront, but the second one is usually close behind, and doing them together saves you another service call.
For a two-car garage with torsion springs, expect to pay somewhere in the $250,$450 range for a complete, professional job.
Garage door springs are under extreme tension. enough to cause serious injury or death if they release suddenly during a repair. This isn't the kind of cautionary language that companies throw around to drum up business. It's why professional training, specialized winding bars, and safety protocols exist for this specific task.
The International Door Association reports that garage door systems cause thousands of injuries each year, many tied to improper spring handling. Even experienced handypeople who are comfortable with complex home repairs should pass on this one. The $50 you might save on labor is not worth the risk. See our full services to understand what a proper spring replacement involves from a trained technician's perspective.
If your door is otherwise in good shape. panels are solid, the opener is working, the tracks and cables are fine. a spring replacement is almost always the right call. But if you're dealing with a mid-century door in one of Howey's older neighborhoods that has been patched multiple times, it may be worth having a technician assess the full picture. Sometimes the math tips toward a new door, especially if you're also budgeting for Mission Inn-area curb appeal or getting ready to sell.
When in doubt, reach out for a quote before assuming the worst. A quick assessment often clarifies whether a spring swap gets you another decade out of your current door or whether a replacement makes more financial sense.
Q: Can I still use my garage door if a spring is broken? A: Technically you can open it manually, but you shouldn't. Without a functioning spring, the door's full weight falls on the opener motor and cables, which can cause additional damage quickly. If you're in a pinch, disengage the opener and lift manually. but treat it as a temporary measure and call a pro same day.
Q: How long does a spring replacement take? A: For a straightforward torsion spring replacement on a standard single or double garage door, a trained technician typically completes the job in 30 to 90 minutes. If cables or other hardware also need attention, add time accordingly.
Q: Do both springs need to be replaced at the same time? A: If both springs are the same age. which is usually the case. yes, replacing both at once is the smarter move. It saves a second service call and ensures your door stays balanced on both sides. Most reputable technicians will walk you through the reasoning and let you decide.