My garage door spring broke and the door won't open. How much will it cost to fix and should I try doing it myself?

A broken garage door spring is one of the most common repair calls in Ottawa, and it is also one of the repairs you should absolutely not attempt yourself. Garage door springs are under extreme tension, storing enough energy to lift a door that weighs 150 to 400 pounds. When they break or are improperly handled, they can cause serious injury or death. Every year across Canada there are emergency room visits from homeowners who tried to replace springs themselves. Please hire a professional for this one.

The cost to have a garage door spring replaced in Ottawa runs between $200 and $450 for a single spring, or $350 to $600 if both springs are replaced at the same time. Most professionals will strongly recommend replacing both springs even if only one has broken, and this is genuinely good advice, not an upsell. If one spring has failed, the other one has the same age and wear and will likely fail within a few months. Replacing both at once saves you a second service call.

There are two types of springs used on residential garage doors. Torsion springs mount on a metal shaft above the door opening and twist to store energy. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door and stretch to store energy. Torsion springs are more common on newer installations and are considered safer because when they break, they stay on the shaft. Extension springs can fly off when they snap, which is why they should always have safety cables running through them.

For a standard double garage door in Ottawa, a pair of torsion springs typically costs $350 to $500 installed, including the springs, labour, and a lubrication of all moving parts. For extension springs, expect $250 to $400 for the pair. The labour itself usually takes 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Some companies charge a service call fee on top of the repair cost, typically $60 to $90 in the Ottawa area.

Most garage door springs in Ottawa last seven to twelve years depending on how often the door cycles and how well the springs are maintained. Cold weather is hard on springs because metal becomes more brittle at low temperatures. A lot of spring failures in Ottawa happen on the coldest mornings of winter, when someone opens the garage door to leave for work and the spring snaps. Annual lubrication with a silicone-based spray helps extend spring life, and it is something you can safely do yourself.

When you call for a spring repair, most Ottawa garage door companies can get to you within the same day, and many offer emergency service if your car is trapped inside. If the spring broke and you need to get your car out before the technician arrives, do not try to force the door open. Use the emergency release handle, which is the red cord hanging from the opener rail, to disconnect the door from the opener. Then, with someone helping you, carefully lift the door manually. It will be very heavy without the spring assisting, so use caution and lift with your legs.

---

Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects Ottawa homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Luxe Painting and Renovations
• JC Carpentry
• M.O.T. CONSTRUCTION INC.
• GDS - Garage Doors & Openers Ottawa
• Floor-2-Wall Inc