2026-03-11 7 min read
If your garage door has been acting sluggish, sounding louder than usual, or refusing to open one morning, the culprit is often sitting right above the door. the springs. In Von Ormy, this is one of the most common calls we get, and for good reason: the climate here is genuinely rough on garage door hardware.
Von Ormy sits in a humid subtropical climate where summer temperatures routinely push into the high 90s and triple digits. August averages a high of 97°F, with the heat index regularly climbing past 100°F. That's not just uncomfortable for you. it's punishing for the steel components on your garage door.
Heat causes metal to expand, directly altering spring tension. When temperatures cool at night, the metal contracts again. This daily expansion-and-contraction cycle, repeated hundreds of times a year, causes cumulative metal fatigue that shortens spring lifespan well below the rated cycle count. Add in the dust and fine debris that blow across this part of Atascosa County, and you've got extra friction grinding against your spring coils every single time the door moves.
Neighborhoods like Medina Crossing and the newer communities along Highway 90 West feature homes with attached 2-car garages. which means these springs are often the primary entry point for the whole family, sometimes cycling 6,8 times a day. That kind of use adds up fast.
Most standard torsion springs are rated for approximately 10,000 cycles. At 4,5 uses per day, that's roughly 7,10 years. But Central Texas heat accelerates metal fatigue, meaning real-world lifespans often fall short of that rated number. Families using the garage as their main entry point can hit that limit much sooner.
There are two types of springs you'll typically find:
- Torsion springs. mounted on a bar above the door opening, they twist to lift the door and are standard on most modern homes in the area. - Extension springs. run alongside the horizontal tracks, stretch as the door closes, and contract to help lift it open.
For new builds going up in Von Ormy right now. and there are plenty, with communities from DR Horton's Preserve at Medina to Lennar's Legacy Point all offering attached 2-car garages. torsion spring systems are the norm. If you're in one of the older mobile homes or ranch-style properties that make up a significant portion of housing stock here, you may have an older extension spring system that needs closer attention.
You don't need to be a garage door technician to spot a spring that's on its way out. Watch for these:
- The door feels unusually heavy when you lift it manually after pulling the emergency release cord. - Uneven or jerky movement. one side rising faster than the other is a classic sign of uneven spring tension. - A loud bang coming from the garage, often described as a gunshot sound. That's a broken spring releasing its tension all at once. - The door won't open at all, even though the opener is running. The opener is only designed to guide the door, not carry the full weight of a dead-spring door. - Visible gaps or rust in the coils when you look at the spring directly.
If you spot rust or squeaking that won't go away after lubrication, don't wait. A rusty spring is a weakened spring and cannot be trusted to hold the tension required to lift a heavy door safely. Check out our frequently asked questions for more on what to expect during a spring inspection.
There are a few things homeowners in Von Ormy and neighboring Castroville can do to extend spring life:
1. Lubricate every six months using a silicone or lithium-based spray. not WD-40, which strips lubrication rather than adding it. Apply it to the coils, hinges, rollers, and tracks. 2. Do the balance test: Disconnect the opener, pull the release cord, lift the door manually to waist height, and let go. If it stays put, the springs are balanced. If it drops or flies up, something is off. 3. Keep the tracks clear of dirt and debris, which is especially relevant during dry, dusty spells common to this stretch of South Texas.
However, spring replacement itself is not a DIY project. Torsion springs store enormous mechanical energy. enough to cause serious injury if they release unexpectedly. Professional technicians use specialized winding bars and clamps to manage this tension safely. Attempting it with screwdrivers or improvised tools can be fatal. If you suspect your springs are failing, the right move is to contact a qualified technician rather than risk it.
For homeowners considering an upgrade, high-cycle springs rated for 50,000 or more cycles are worth the additional cost. especially in a high-use household. The longer lifespan more than pays for itself. Explore your options on our services page to learn what's available for your door type.
Q: Can I still use my garage door if one spring is broken? A: Technically the door may still move, but you shouldn't use it. The opener motor will be forced to carry the full weight of the door, which can burn it out quickly. An unbalanced door also puts stress on cables, rollers, and tracks. Disconnect the opener and call for service.
Q: How much does spring replacement cost in the Von Ormy area? A: Torsion spring replacement typically ranges from $150 to $350 depending on single vs. double spring systems and the type of spring chosen. Upgrading to high-cycle springs costs a bit more upfront but saves money in the long run for busy households.
Q: Should I replace both springs at once, even if only one broke? A: Yes. If one spring breaks, the other is usually at a similar point in its wear cycle. Replacing both at the same time saves you a second service call within months and keeps the door balanced and safe.