Garage door won't stay open
A door that slides down on its own has lost spring tension. Test it: disconnect the opener with the release cord, lift the door to waist height, and let go. A balanced door stays put. One that falls or shoots up is making the opener carry the difference, and that is what kills opener gears. Spring adjustment or replacement runs $225 to $340.
Check these first
Two minutes, no tools, and sometimes it's the whole answer.
- Do the halfway test with the opener disconnected. It takes thirty seconds and it answers the question.
- Look at the springs for a gap in the coil, which means one has already broken.
- Check whether the door falls fast or drifts slowly. A fast fall means substantially lost tension and it's a hazard.
- Check the cables are still evenly wound on both drums.
What not to do while you wait
- Don't prop the door open with anything. If it comes down on the prop it comes down hard.
- Don't adjust spring tension yourself. That's the same stored energy that makes spring replacement a professional job.
- Don't leave a fast-falling door in service with children or pets in the house.
What it usually turns out to be
- Spring tension lost with age Springs weaken gradually before they break. A door that used to stay put and now drifts is telling you the spring is near the end.
- One of a pair already broken On a two-spring door, one broken spring leaves the other carrying half the load, so the door is heavy but not immovable.
- Wrong spring for the door weight A spring that doesn't match the door's actual weight never balances it. It's a common outcome of a cheap replacement.
- Door weight changed An insulated replacement section, or a wooden door that has absorbed moisture, weighs more than the spring was set for.
What it costs
$225 to $340 for spring replacement. A pair is $365 to $520. The diagnostic visit is $39 and it comes off that in full when you go ahead the same visit. Full detail on the garage door spring replacement page, and every other range we charge is on the cost page.
Where we cover
Newark, Fremont, Union City, Hayward, with Hayward limited to 94545 and 94544 in the south of the city. Call before noon and Newark, Fremont and Union City are same-day appointments. The areas we cover, in detail.
Questions we get asked
Is a drifting door dangerous?
It's a warning rather than an emergency, unless it falls quickly, in which case treat it as one. Either way it's shortening the life of the opener, because the motor is lifting weight it isn't sized to lift.
Can the tension just be adjusted rather than the spring replaced?
Sometimes, if the spring is sound and simply under-wound. If the spring is at the end of its cycle life, adding tension buys a short reprieve and we'd tell you that rather than take the money twice.
Other things doors do
- Garage door won't close Almost always the safety sensors.
- Garage door won't open If it feels heavy, it's the spring.
- Garage door spring broke The bang was the spring letting go.
- Opener runs but the door doesn't move The trolley or the drive gear.
- Garage door opener is completely dead Power first, then the logic board.
Tell us what it's doing
(510) 509-9998. If a car is shut inside, say so first and we'll book you ahead of the queue.
Newark · Fremont · Union City · Hayward