2026-03-27 7 min read
If you've ever walked into your garage on a frigid Cornish morning and hit the button. only to hear a loud bang or watch the door crawl up halfway and stop. there's a good chance your springs gave out overnight. It happens more often than most people expect here in Sullivan County, and there are real reasons why.
Cornish, NH doesn't ease into winter. Temperatures regularly drop into the single digits overnight, and the area sees snowfall from October through May. That kind of sustained cold takes a direct toll on the metal components of your garage door system.
Here's the basic physics: torsion springs are tightly wound coils of hardened steel that store and release energy every time your door opens or closes. In freezing conditions, steel contracts slightly, which increases internal stress on springs that are already under constant tension. Over months of cold nights and slightly warmer afternoons, the metal expands and contracts repeatedly. Microscopic cracks. invisible to the eye. begin forming and widening with each cycle. By the time late winter rolls around, a spring that has already endured months of thermal stress and cycle fatigue can snap with little warning.
This is why so many homeowners in Cornish and nearby Claremont notice spring failures in February and March, not December. The metal doesn't give out on the first cold day. it gives out after months of accumulated wear.
Before you call for service, it helps to know which system your door uses.
- Torsion springs are mounted horizontally above the door opening on a metal bar. Most newer doors in the area use this setup. When they fail, you'll often see a visible gap in the coil or hear a sharp crack. - Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door. Older homes. and Cornish has plenty of historic and older-build properties along Route 12A and Route 120. are more likely to have extension spring systems.
Both types are under serious tension and carry real injury risk if mishandled. This is not a repair to attempt yourself. The forces involved are significant enough that even a small mistake can cause the spring to release violently. Our services page has more detail on what a professional spring replacement involves from start to finish.
Don't wait for a complete snap. Watch for these warning signs:
- The door feels unusually heavy when you try to lift it manually, The opener strains, slows, or reverses before the door is fully open, You notice the door rising unevenly. one side higher than the other, A loud bang came from the garage, even if the door still seems to work, There's a visible gap or separation in a spring coil above the door
If you're unsure whether your springs are the culprit, our FAQ page covers common diagnostic questions homeowners ask before calling for service.
This is a question we hear often. When one spring breaks, the other has usually logged the same number of cycles under the same conditions. Replacing just the failed spring and leaving the worn one in place often means a second service call within months. Most experienced technicians. including the team at Garage Door Cornish. will recommend replacing both at the same time. It's the more practical and economical choice for homeowners who want reliability through another New Hampshire winter.
Spring selection also matters more than most people realize. Standard builder-grade springs are typically rated for around 10,000 cycles. High-cycle springs, rated for 25,000 cycles or more, cost somewhat more upfront but can significantly extend the time between replacements. a worthwhile investment given how hard Cornish winters are on hardware.
1. Stop using the door. Forcing the opener to lift a door with a broken spring puts serious strain on the motor and can damage the opener, cables, and rollers in addition to the spring itself. 2. Use the manual release to open the door by hand if you need to get your car out. but understand the door will be heavy without spring support. Read more about how to safely use your manual release mechanism before attempting this. 3. Call for service. Spring repair is same-day work for a prepared technician. You don't need to leave your garage out of commission for days.
No spring lasts forever, but you can slow the wear. Lubricating your springs two or three times a year with a dedicated garage door lubricant. not WD-40. reduces friction and surface corrosion. Given Cornish's high humidity in January and February, moisture-related rust is a real factor. A light coat of lubricant goes a long way. For a full seasonal maintenance checklist, see our guide on preparing your garage door for winter.
If you're not sure how old your springs are or when they were last serviced, contact us to schedule an inspection. It's a quick visit that can save you from a much more inconvenient breakdown.
Under normal use, standard springs are rated for roughly 10,000 cycles. typically 7 to 10 years for an average household. In colder climates like Cornish's, repeated thermal stress can reduce that lifespan, especially if the springs aren't regularly lubricated.
Technically the door may still move, but it puts excessive strain on your opener and creates a risk of the door dropping suddenly. It's best to stop using the door and call for professional service as soon as possible.
You can, but it's usually not recommended. When one spring fails, the other has endured the same wear and is close to its limit. Replacing both at the same time avoids a second service call and keeps the door balanced.