2026-03-27 7 min read
If you live in Derry and you've ever heard a loud bang from your garage on a cold February morning, you already know what a broken torsion spring sounds like. It's one of the most common calls we get every late winter. and there's a very specific reason it happens here in southern New Hampshire more than homeowners expect.
Derry sits in a humid continental climate, meaning the town experiences genuine seasonal extremes. Temperatures can swing from lows of around 17°F in the dead of winter to highs in the low 80s by July. But the real damage to your garage door hardware doesn't come from the cold alone. it comes from the constant back-and-forth.
Through December and January, your springs are exposed to freezing overnight temps. Then a milder afternoon pushes temps back above freezing. That daily contraction and expansion causes metal fatigue to accumulate cycle after cycle. By the time February and March roll around, your springs have already endured months of freezing nights, warmer afternoons, and constant expansion and contraction. That combination of metal contraction plus cycle fatigue is exactly why so many homeowners wake up to a loud bang in late winter. the spring was already weakened, and the cold simply pushed it past its limit.
Derry also sees meaningful humidity year-round, with relative humidity reaching as high as 81% in February. That moisture accelerates corrosion on bare steel springs, speeding up wear even further.
There are two main spring systems you'll find on Derry homes. Torsion springs mount horizontally above the garage door opening and wind around a steel shaft. Extension springs run along the sides of the door and stretch as the door closes. Both are under significant tension, and both are vulnerable to our local climate. though torsion springs are more common on newer single-family homes, which make up the majority of Derry's housing stock.
Many homes in neighborhoods like East Derry and the developments along the I-93 corridor were built between the 1970s and 1990s. The builder-grade springs installed on those doors are typically rated for around 10,000 cycles. For a busy household that uses the garage as the primary entry point, that lifespan can shrink fast. especially through New Hampshire winters that accelerate metal fatigue.
Your door usually gives you warning signs before a spring snaps completely. Here's what to watch for:
- The door feels unusually heavy when you lift it manually. Springs counterbalance the door's weight; when they weaken, you feel it. - Squeaking or creaking during operation, especially in the morning when the metal is coldest. - The door opens unevenly, rising higher on one side than the other. - A visible gap in a torsion spring coil. this means it has already broken and you should stop using the door immediately.
If any of these are happening, it's best to avoid forcing the door. A spring issue can create extra strain on the opener and increase the risk of damage to cables, rollers, hinges, or tracks. Check our answers to common garage door questions if you're unsure whether what you're seeing warrants an immediate call.
This one isn't negotiable. Torsion springs store an enormous amount of mechanical energy under tension. When a spring releases unexpectedly during handling, the consequences can be severe. think shattered car windows or serious injury. Even if you avoid immediate harm, improperly balanced springs create cascading problems: one side bears excessive load, the opener works harder than it was designed to, and the repaired spring often fails again within months.
Spring repair is a job for trained technicians with the right tools. If you want to understand more about the broader safety systems on your door, our guide on keeping your family protected around the garage is worth a read.
When a spring does fail, you have a choice: replace it with a standard spring, or upgrade. High-cycle springs. typically rated for 20,000 to 30,000+ cycles. can effectively double or triple the usable lifespan compared to builder-grade hardware. They're often available with powder-coated finishes that resist the kind of moisture-driven corrosion that Derry's humid winters accelerate.
Most professionals will also recommend replacing both springs at the same time, even if only one has broken. Since both springs were installed together, the remaining one is likely near the end of its life as well. It costs less to do both in a single service visit than to schedule a second call a few months later.
If your Derry home still has its original springs and the door is more than seven years old, this is a smart time to schedule an inspection. especially coming out of another New Hampshire winter. Early spring is ideal: the worst of the cold has passed, but you'll catch any fatigue damage before the door is being used even more heavily through summer.
Garage Door Derry serves homes across Derry and nearby towns including Londonderry, Windham, and Salem. Book a spring inspection today before a late-winter failure turns into a more expensive problem.
The clearest signs are a loud bang followed by a door that won't lift more than a few inches, a visible gap in a torsion spring coil, or cables that have gone slack. If you see any of these, stop using the door and call a technician.
No. Operating the door puts dangerous strain on the opener motor and cables. It can cause additional damage and creates a safety hazard. The door should be left closed until a professional replaces the spring.
Under normal conditions, standard springs last roughly 7 to 10 years. In New Hampshire's climate. with its freeze-thaw cycles and seasonal humidity. that lifespan can be shorter, particularly for builder-grade springs on older homes. High-cycle spring upgrades can extend service life significantly.