2026-03-30 7 min read
If you've ever walked out to your garage on a bitter January morning in Exeter and hit the button. only to hear a loud bang followed by a door that won't budge. you already know what a broken torsion spring feels like. It's one of the most common calls Garage Door Exeter receives from late November straight through to March, and it's no coincidence.
Exeter sits squarely in a humid continental climate. Temperatures regularly drop below 0°F in winter, then swing back up into the 30s or 40s during the afternoon. That constant freeze-thaw cycle isn't just inconvenient for your driveway. it's quietly destroying your garage door springs season after season.
Your garage door's torsion springs are made from tightly coiled steel that lives under constant tension. Every time the door opens and closes, the metal twists and untwists. a process called cycle fatigue. Add a New Hampshire winter to the equation, and the problem accelerates fast.
When temperatures drop, steel contracts slightly. That contraction increases internal stress on the coil. Cold steel also becomes less flexible and more brittle. a phenomenon known as the ductile-to-brittle transition, which can kick in right around the freezing point. Existing microscopic cracks in the metal expand more quickly under these conditions.
By the time February and March roll around, your springs have already been through months of freezing nights and warmer afternoons. Each cycle of expansion and contraction further weakens the metal's structure. It's not random bad luck when a spring finally snaps. it's predictable physics.
Homes throughout Exeter. from the Colonial-style houses in neighborhoods like Blackford Place and Deerhaven to the older New Englanders downtown. almost all depend on garage doors as primary entry points. For families who use the garage multiple times daily, standard builder-grade springs rated for around 10,000 cycles can wear out in as little as 7 years. In Exeter's climate, don't expect the generous end of that range.
Broken springs don't always fail without warning. Here's what to watch for before a full failure leaves you stranded:
- Sluggish or slow opening. If your door takes noticeably longer than normal to open, the springs may be struggling against the cold. - Popping, rattling, or squeaking sounds. New noises during operation often emerge before a complete failure and shouldn't be ignored. - Jerky or uneven movement. Watch for irregular motion, stopping and starting, or one side of the door sagging lower than the other. - Visible gaps in the spring coil. A clear separation means the spring has already broken. - Door feels unusually heavy manually. Springs counterbalance the door's weight. Without that support, even a standard single-car door can weigh over 150 pounds.
If you notice any of these signs, now is the time to get in touch with a professional before you're locked out on a 10°F morning.
Most homes in the Exeter area have one of two spring types:
Torsion springs run horizontally above the door opening and store energy by twisting. They're generally more durable and safer when they fail. Most modern two-car garage doors use them.
Extension springs run along the sides of the tracks and work by stretching. They're common on older single-car doors. which you'll find on plenty of the historic homes in Exeter's downtown. If your home was built before the 1990s, there's a good chance you have extension springs.
Both types are under significant tension. Replacing either style yourself is genuinely dangerous. a snapped spring releases stored energy violently and can cause serious injury. This is always a job for a trained technician.
If you're replacing springs on a garage that sees daily use, it's worth asking about high-cycle springs. Standard springs are typically rated for about 10,000 cycles. High-cycle versions can handle 25,000 or more, and they often come with corrosion-resistant coatings. a real advantage in New Hampshire's humid winters. The upfront cost difference is modest compared to calling for emergency service during a snowstorm.
For homeowners in Stratham, Portsmouth, and other nearby communities, this upgrade is just as relevant. the freeze-thaw pattern hits the entire Seacoast region hard.
While spring replacement itself must be handled professionally, there are a few things you can do to reduce wear between visits:
1. Lubricate springs every fall. Use a dedicated garage door lubricant (never WD-40, which can gum up in cold temperatures). A light coat on the coils helps reduce corrosion and friction. 2. Test your door's balance. Disconnect the opener, lift the door manually to about waist height, and let go. It should stay roughly in place. If it falls or flies up, the spring tension is off. 3. Clear snow and ice from the bottom seal. Ice that builds up at the door's base forces the opener to work harder, putting extra strain on springs. A gentle scrape before operating prevents unnecessary stress.
For a full seasonal checklist, our guide on preparing your garage door for winter covers the key inspection steps before the cold settles in.
If your door is running fine right now, that's the best time to schedule a spring inspection. Proactive replacement is far less disruptive. and less expensive. than an emergency call after failure. Check out our full list of services to see what a tune-up and safety inspection includes.
The most unmistakable sign is a loud bang from the garage. even if you weren't using the door at the time. After that, the door will feel extremely heavy when you try to lift it manually, and you may see a visible gap in the coil where the spring has separated into two pieces.
No. Operating a garage door with a broken spring puts the full weight of the door on the opener motor, which can destroy it quickly. It also creates a risk of the door falling. Keep the door closed and call a professional for repair.
Standard builder-grade springs are rated for around 10,000 cycles. roughly 7 to 10 years under normal use. In New Hampshire's cold, humid winters, springs on heavily used doors can wear out sooner. Upgrading to high-cycle springs with corrosion-resistant coatings is a smart investment for most Exeter homeowners.