Is it actually the spring?
Most "the door won't open" calls turn out to be a broken spring, but not all of them. Before you assume — and before you keep cycling the opener — run through this quick checklist.
If two or more of the signs below describe what you're seeing, it's almost certainly the spring. Stop using the door and skip ahead to the repair section.
Heard a loud bang? Door stuck halfway? Opener straining? That's a spring — not the opener. Don't keep cycling it.
The five tell-tale signs.
Run through these five. The more that match, the more certain it is.
Don't try to lift the door.
Garage door torsion springs are wound to hundreds of pounds of stored energy. They are the single most dangerous part of a residential garage. People are injured every year doing this themselves — sometimes seriously.
If your spring is broken, the door is now dead-weight — 150–250 lbs of steel. Lifting it manually without cables and an opener still attached can snap a cable, drop the door on you or your car, or release the second spring catastrophically. Do not attempt to disengage the opener and lift the door manually.
If your car is trapped inside and you absolutely must move it, call us — we can usually have a tech out same-day, often within the hour. We do the job safely with the right tools.
How it kills your opener.
Most garage door openers are designed to lift only 8 to 15 pounds. The spring does the actual heavy lifting — the opener just guides the door up and down.
When the spring breaks, the opener doesn't know. It's still trying to lift the now-200-lb door anyway. The motor strains, the drive gear grinds, and within a few attempts you can burn out the opener trying to lift a door it was never designed to lift on its own.
Ask for a diagnostic on the opener when the tech arrives. Catching gear damage early is the difference between a $20 part and a new opener.
We always check the opener after a spring replacement. If it's been straining, it may be on borrowed time even after the spring is back. We'll tell you straight, not bundle it in.
Torsion vs. extension.
Garage doors use one of two spring systems. Knowing which one you have isn't strictly required — we'll figure it out on arrival — but it helps you describe what you're seeing when you call.
One or two springs wound around a horizontal bar mounted above the door opening. Safer when intact; more dangerous to repair improperly. ~80% of what we service.
Long springs that stretch horizontally along the upper tracks on each side. Common in pre-90s homes. Can fly across the garage if a safety cable is missing — we always add cables on retrofit.
Most repairs we do are torsion. We service both — pricing is in the same range either way. You don't need to know which one you have to call.
What a proper repair actually involves.
Spring repair should be predictable. Same process whether it's Tuesday afternoon or Saturday morning. Here's what we do — and what you should expect from any reputable shop:
You call.
A real person, not a phone tree. We'll evaluate over the phone — what kind of door, what you heard, where it's stuck — and confirm whether it's a same-day visit.
Tech arrives.
Same-day for most calls. They'll confirm by text with a photo of the truck before they arrive. No commission-paid salespeople — actual technicians.
Written quote, before work starts.
Confirmed in writing — spring, two bearings, labor, and an opener recommendation if it took strain. No upsell, no surprises at the end.
Fixed today.
Most spring jobs are done in 1–2 hours. Six-month workmanship warranty; manufacturer's warranty stays on the spring.
What it should cost.
We publish our pricing because hiding it doesn't help anyone. Spring repair is a known, repeatable job — there should be no surprises.
If the opener also took damage from straining, that's a separate diagnosis — sometimes a $20 part, sometimes a replacement recommendation. We won't bundle it into the spring bill without telling you.
"Spring broke on my garage door several months ago and I had been dragging my feet to get it done. Called LMS and they were out the next morning and got it all sorted in an hour. Priced exactly as I expected from booking it — no surprises."
Common questions about springs.
How long does the repair take?
1–2 hours for most residential spring jobs, depending on door size, the number of springs, and any other components that need attention. The tech will give you an exact ETA when they arrive.
Do you replace one spring or both?
On double-spring systems we recommend replacing both. They're the same age, under the same load, and the second one usually fails within months of the first. Doing both at once is cheaper than two visits.
What if my opener is also damaged from straining?
We diagnose it as part of the visit. Sometimes it's a $20 gear replacement; sometimes the motor is fried. We'll quote both options separately so you can decide.
Can I keep using the door if only one spring is broken?
No. The remaining spring is now lifting twice its rated load and will fail soon. Stop using the door.
Do you offer 24/7 emergency repair?
Yes — for residential and commercial. Our after-hours line is staffed by a real person, not a service. (916) 304-7126.