- 1726 Great Hwy San Francisco, CA 94122
- Garagedooralfonso@gmail.com
When a torsion spring snaps, the door becomes dead weight — often 150 pounds or more — and the opener alone can't lift it. Alfonso Garage Door stocks common spring sizes at our Outer Sunset shop on Great Highway, so most San Francisco spring jobs finish the same day. Single torsion spring replacement typically runs $180–$350 installed, quoted exactly before we touch a wrench.
| Single torsion spring, parts + labor | $180–$350 |
| Both torsion springs replaced together | $320–$560 |
| Extension spring pair with safety cables | $220–$420 |
| Longer-life spring upgrade (higher cycle rating) | +$60–$140 |
Typical San Francisco and Bay Area ranges (parts + labor), last updated July 2026 — see the full SF garage door cost guide. You get an exact, upfront quote before any work begins — call (415) 494-4774 or book online.
Your garage door opener is designed to guide the door, not lift its full weight. The springs do 90% of the lifting. When a spring breaks, the opener is not strong enough to lift the 150-400 pound door, and it will likely only move a few inches before stopping or reversing.
You might hear the garage door opener motor straining, humming, or grinding, but the door itself isn’t moving. This is a sign that the motor is trying to work, but the dead weight of the door (due to the broken spring) is too much for it to handle.
⚠️ Never attempt spring replacement yourself:
Extreme Tension: Torsion springs are wound with hundreds of pounds of force. Improper handling can cause the spring or winding bars to fly off, causing severe injury, dismemberment, or even death.
Specialized Tools: Replacing springs requires specific tools like winding bars, which are not standard household items. Using substitutes (like screwdrivers) is extremely dangerous and can lead to them breaking or being thrown.
Incorrect Parts: You must have the exact right spring for your door’s weight, height, and track type. The wrong spring will cause the door to be unbalanced, burning out your opener or causing the door to slam shut.
System Knowledge: A professional ensures the entire system (cables, drums, bearings) is re-calibrated correctly. A mistake can cause the cables to snap or the door to fall off its tracks.
At Alfonso Garage Door, our technicians have the specialized tools, training, and experience to handle high-tension spring repairs safely and efficiently.
Visually inspect the springs for signs of rust or gaps.
Listen for unusual scraping or grinding noises during operation, which could indicate strain.
Test the door balance (if you feel safe disengaging the opener) to see if the door drifts up or down, indicating weak springs.
Lubricate the garage door springs lightly with a silicone-based garage door lubricant. This reduces friction and noise.
Clean and lubricate the door's hinges, rollers, and tracks as well.
Check and tighten all hardware, as vibrations can loosen bolts over time.
Schedule a professional inspection and tune-up. A technician can check the spring tension, balance the door, and spot signs of wear before a spring breaks.
Test the auto-reverse safety features.
The door feels extremely heavy when lifted manually.
The door is slow, jerky, or uneven when moving.
You see visible rust or corrosion on the spring coils.
The cables or pulleys appear frayed or worn.
Owner
Leads the team with expertise, ensuring reliable garage door installations and repairs.
Technician
Skilled in maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of all residential and commercial garage doors.
Technician
Experienced in spring replacement, opener installation, and emergency garage door services.
Technician
Specializes in cable, roller, and track repairs, ensuring smooth and safe door operation.
We follow all DASMA Garage Door Safety Guidelines on every job.
Our safety protocols and training are aligned with OSHA Safety Standards to protect both our technicians and your property.
The number one cause of a cable coming off its drum is an obstruction, and winter is the peak season for this. A shovel left by the door, a bag of salt, or a pile of hardened snow and ice at the threshold can stop the door’s descent. When the door hits this object, it creates a sudden slack in the cables. That split-second of slack is all it takes for one of the cables to unspool from its drum, leaving your door crooked and dangerously jammed. Before the first snowfall, make a habit of ensuring the door’s path is completely clear.
Using the same garage door springs for years is potentially dangerous because a heavy door relies on energy stored in one spring or two springs of the same age. When a garage door spring breaks or the spring is broken, improper handling without proper tools, locking pliers, and other necessary tools can cause serious injury.
Installing new springs requires loosening and securing set screws, managing manual effort, and following proper precautions to ensure a good spring replacement and safe operation.
Contact us for a no-obligation assessment of your garage door needs. We provide transparent pricing and honest recommendations.
Our certified technicians arrive on time with fully stocked service vehicles, ready to complete most repairs on the first visit.
All our work is backed by comprehensive warranties on parts and labor, ensuring your complete satisfaction.
We provide follow-up service and are always available for questions or additional needs.
In San Francisco, a single torsion spring typically runs $180–$350 installed, and doing both springs at once runs $320–$560. The exact number depends on your door's weight and the spring's wire size and length. We measure the old spring, quote the full price up front, and the price you approve is the price you pay — no add-ons at the end.
Both springs on a two-spring door have cycled the same number of times, so when one lets go the other is usually near the end of its life too. Replacing the pair in one visit costs far less than two separate service calls a few months apart. If your door has a single spring, this doesn't apply — you just need the one.
No — stop using it. With the spring gone, the opener is dragging the door's full weight, which strips its drive gear and can snap the lift cables. Leave the door where it is, keep people and cars clear of it, and call us. We answer 24/7 and can usually get a truck to you within hours anywhere in the city.
Moisture accelerates rust, and rust creates the surface pits where spring steel cracks start. Doors near Ocean Beach and in the Sunset do tend to lose springs earlier than doors in drier neighborhoods. A thin coat of garage-door lubricant on the spring once or twice a year slows this down considerably — it's part of our tune-up for exactly that reason.
Once we're on site with the right spring, the swap itself takes about 45–90 minutes: unload the old spring, install and wind the new one, then balance-test the door so it stays put at half height. Because our shop is at 1726 Great Hwy, west-side jobs often get same-morning service.
Often handled in the same visit as broken spring repair:
Same-day, true 24/7 broken spring repair across San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, and the East Bay — including:
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