My garage door sensor keeps saying the door is blocked. How do I know if it's just misaligned?

Safety sensors sit on opposite sides of your door frame about 6 inches up. If they're misaligned, they can't 'see' each other and trigger a false block. Start by checking if both sensor lights are on and steady—if one's flickering or dark, it needs attention. Gently realign the sensors by loosening their brackets slightly and pointing them directly at each other. If that doesn't work, dust or condensation buildup (common in our humid seasons) might be blocking the beam. A quick cleaning often solves it, but persistent issues usually mean the sensor itself has failed and needs replacement.

How often should I replace the weather stripping around my garage door?

Weather stripping typically lasts 3 to 5 years, but New Hampshire winters are rough on seals. If you notice cold air sneaking in, water pooling inside after rain, or visible cracks in the rubber, it's time to replace. The rubber hardens and shrinks over time, especially with our freeze-thaw cycles. Replacing it is affordable and saves energy costs, plus it keeps pests and moisture out of your garage. We can inspect your seals and swap them out quickly—no need to wait until you're losing heat in January.

What's the risk with garage door cables, and how do I know when mine need replacing?

Cables support the full weight of your door and can snap suddenly under tension, which is genuinely dangerous. Look for fraying, rust, or visible gaps in the cable wrap. If one cable breaks, the door becomes unbalanced and can jam or fall unevenly. Don't attempt DIY replacement—the tension is extreme and can cause serious injury. We recommend inspection every couple of years, especially if your door is heavy or you use it daily. Replacing cables before they fail prevents costly damage and keeps everyone safe.

Our attached garage is loud when the door opens. Can we quiet it down?

Noise usually comes from worn rollers, loose hardware, or a tired opener motor. Start by checking that all bolts and brackets are tight—vibration amplifies through attached garages into your home. Replacing nylon rollers with quieter ones makes a noticeable difference. Your opener might also be running louder as it ages; a newer, quieter model often pays for itself through better efficiency. Insulating the garage door itself also absorbs sound. Let us diagnose where the noise is coming from, and we'll give you options that fit your budget.

Does Piermont have HOA rules about garage door appearance or size?

That depends on your specific neighborhood or development. Some Piermont areas have deed restrictions or HOA guidelines limiting color, material, or style. Before replacing your door, check your property documents or contact your HOA board directly. If you're unsure, we can help you choose a door that blends well with typical local architecture—many homes here have classic raised-panel steel or wood-look doors that satisfy most guidelines. Give us a call and we'll work with you to find something compliant and attractive.

What's the best garage door material for a New Hampshire home?

Steel doors are the most popular here—they're durable, affordable, and handle our weather well with proper maintenance. Aluminum is lightweight and low-maintenance but dents more easily. Wood doors look beautiful but require regular staining and are vulnerable to rot in our wet springs. Composite materials mimic wood appearance without the maintenance and resist warping. For most Piermont homes, insulated steel offers the best balance of durability, energy efficiency, and value. We can show you samples and discuss how each holds up through our seasonal changes.

Is it cheaper to repair my old garage door or replace it entirely?

If your door is under 15 years old and the damage is isolated—a broken spring, bad rollers, or a dented panel—repair usually makes sense. Once doors hit 15-20 years, repairs become more frequent and expensive. Signs it's time to replace: multiple broken components, significant rust, poor insulation, or a motor that struggles. A new door with a modern opener actually saves money through better energy efficiency and fewer service calls. We're honest about this; if your door is repairable, we'll tell you. But if replacement makes financial sense, we'll explain why.

Does my existing opener work with a new garage door, or do I need a replace both?

Most openers are compatible with new doors, but compatibility depends on door weight, opener horsepower, and bolt patterns. Older openers may lack modern safety features like battery backup. If you're upgrading to a heavier insulated door, your current opener might not have enough power. We typically recommend pairing a new door with a newer, quieter opener for better reliability and features. Popular brands like Liftmaster, Chamberlain, and Genie all work well, and we can discuss which fits your needs and budget. Battery backup is increasingly important for power outages, especially during winter storms.

What happens to my garage door opener during a power outage?

Most standard openers won't operate without power, which is frustrating if you're stuck inside or outside. Battery backup systems (available on many newer openers) let you open and close the door a few times during an outage, giving you access until power returns. They're affordable insurance, especially valuable in New Hampshire where winter storms can knock out power for hours. If you have an older opener, adding a backup battery unit is sometimes possible. During your next service, ask us about options—it's peace of mind that costs less than you'd expect.

Garage Door Spring Replacement: What Piermont Homeowners Need to Know Before It Fails

2026-04-06 6 min read

Most homeowners in Piermont and the surrounding Upper Valley towns don't think much about their garage door springs. right up until one of them snaps. Then it's hard to think about anything else. The door won't open. The car is stuck inside. And if it happens on a weekday morning when temperatures are hovering in the teens, the timing couldn't be worse.

Springs don't usually fail without warning. There are signs. some obvious, some easy to miss. and catching them early is the difference between a planned repair on your schedule and an emergency call on the coldest day of the year. Given that many homes in this part of Grafton County rely on their garage as the primary entry point (and often the only heated pathway from car to house in winter), a failed spring isn't a minor inconvenience.

Here's what you actually need to know about garage door springs in plain language, without the upselling.

What Springs Actually Do

Your garage door weighs somewhere between 150 and 300 pounds depending on its size and material. The springs are what make it possible to lift that weight with one hand, or with a small electric motor. They store mechanical energy when the door closes and release it when the door opens, counterbalancing the door's weight so the opener doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting.

When springs are working correctly, you barely notice them. When they start to fail, the whole system feels off.

The Two Types of Springs

Knowing which type your home has helps you recognize problems and talk clearly with a technician.

Torsion springs mount horizontally above the door on a metal shaft and work by twisting to store energy. These are more common in newer construction and modern garage systems. They're more durable, operate more smoothly, and are the safer design when they do eventually break.

Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on both sides of the door and stretch to store energy. These are the older technology and are common in the kind of vintage New England farmhouses and detached garages you'll find throughout Piermont and over in towns like Orford and Lyme. They tend to wear out faster and should have safety cables running through them. without those cables, a broken extension spring can whip through the garage at high speed and cause serious damage.

If you're not sure what you have, look above and to the sides of your door. One horizontal coil above the door = torsion. Stretched coils running along the sides = extension.

Warning Signs Your Springs Are Failing

The Door Feels Unusually Heavy

This is often the first sign. Disconnect your opener using the red emergency cord and try to lift the door manually about three feet. A door with properly functioning springs should stay in place on its own without you holding it. If it feels like you're lifting dead weight, or if it immediately falls back down when you let go, the springs are losing tension and need to be inspected before they fail completely.

A Loud Bang You Can't Explain

A snapping torsion spring makes a sharp sound that many people describe as similar to a gunshot. loud enough to hear clearly from inside the house. If you hear this and then find your door won't open, a spring almost certainly broke. Stop using the door immediately. Do not try to operate it manually or with the opener.

The Door Opens Crooked or Shakes During Movement

If one extension spring weakens while the other is still holding, one side of the door lifts faster than the other. You'll see a noticeable tilt or wobble. This uneven stress accelerates wear on the opener, the cables, and the door panels themselves. so a spring problem that starts small can turn into a much more expensive repair if left alone.

A Visible Gap in the Coil

For torsion springs, a gap of 2 inches or more in the coil is a definitive sign of a break. Don't use the door. For extension springs, look for a spring that appears longer than the other, is visibly sagging, or has a piece hanging loose.

Rust or Visible Corrosion

This one matters especially here in the Upper Valley, where humidity off the Connecticut River and the salt we use on driveways and roads can accelerate metal corrosion. A rusty spring is more brittle and more prone to snapping under load. If you see rust forming on your springs, treat it as a warning sign rather than a cosmetic issue. Applying a lubricant every few months helps prevent this. but visibly corroded springs should be evaluated by a professional.

How Long Do Springs Actually Last?

Standard residential springs are rated for approximately 10,000 cycles, with one cycle equaling one full open and close. For a household that uses the garage door four to five times a day. which is common when you're running kids to school and commuting. that works out to roughly five to seven years. Lower-use households might get nine to twelve years out of a set.

If your home's springs are over seven years old and you haven't had them inspected, that's worth knowing. Especially heading into or coming out of a harsh Upper Valley winter, when the repeated freeze-thaw stress has been doing its work on the metal.

If one spring in a pair breaks, it's standard practice to replace both at the same time. Springs in a matched set experience similar wear. if one is done, the other typically isn't far behind. Replacing both keeps the door balanced and prevents a second emergency call a few months later.

Don't DIY This One

Garage door spring replacement is the repair we most strongly recommend against attempting yourself. The stored tension in a torsion spring is substantial. enough to cause severe injuries if the spring is handled incorrectly or without the proper winding bars and technique. A door without spring support can drop suddenly, and a spring released under tension doesn't travel predictably.

This isn't a liability disclaimer. It's a real risk, and it's why spring replacement should always be handled by a trained technician with the right tools. Browse our full list of services to see how we handle spring replacement and what a typical service call covers.

When to Call vs. When to Wait

Call immediately if: the door won't open at all, you heard a loud snap, you can see a gap in the coil, or the door is moving unevenly and putting visible stress on the opener.

Schedule soon if: the door is slower than usual, feels heavier than it used to, is making new squeaking or grinding sounds, or if your springs are more than seven years old and haven't been serviced. These are signs that failure is coming. just not today. Getting ahead of it means avoiding the emergency call entirely.

For homeowners across the service area. from Piermont down through Bradford and White River Junction. Piermont Garage Doors handles spring repairs and replacements with same-day availability for urgent issues. You can book a visit or ask questions through our contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My garage door opens about six inches and then stops. Is that a spring problem?

A: Very likely, yes. When a spring fails or loses enough tension, the opener's safety mechanism detects the excessive load and stops the door rather than risk burning out the motor. Disconnect the opener and test the door manually. if it feels extremely heavy or won't stay at waist height on its own, the springs are the culprit. Stop using the door and call a technician.

Q: Can I replace just one spring if only one broke?

A: Technically yes, but it's not advisable. Springs in a matched pair wear at similar rates, so when one breaks the other is usually close behind. Replacing both at the same time saves you a second service call and keeps the door balanced. Most technicians will recommend this, and the incremental cost of the second spring is small compared to the labor of a return visit.

Q: How do I extend the life of my garage door springs?

A: Lubricate the spring coils with a silicone-based or lithium-based lubricant every three to six months. this reduces friction and helps prevent rust. Avoid WD-40, which can attract dust and gum up the coils over time. Also, keeping your door properly balanced reduces the stress each cycle puts on the springs. Our FAQ page covers more routine maintenance questions like this one.

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