[Catalina36]

Recently one morning I went to open my garage door. The door opened about a foot I then heard a bang the door slammed close and then would not open again. Ok, so I called a repair company " Florida Garage Door Pro's". I usually get several estimates for any repair work being done. But this time, I needed to get the door open. There was no time to start calling and waiting days to have several repairmen show up for an estimate of repairs. Ok, they arrived the same day I called and the repairman looked at the job and stated you have a broken torsion spring. There are two above your door. A left and a right. Recommended having both of them replaced along with the center bearing. Ok, gave me a repair cost of $530.00. At that point what can I do I needed the garage door open. Ok, go ahead with the repairs. The new torsion springs were a grade higher than the original, more heavy duty. The repairman was experienced and no joke did the entire repair and was in and out in 35 minutes. I looked on Amazon and the cost of the parts was $180.00. Now mind you their wholesale cost is most likely cheaper then my cost. Yes, do I feel I was over charged. I guess what I am suggesting here is my house is 18 years old and I had the original garage door springs. Don't wait for your garage door springs to break. Have them replaced before and maybe you can call around and get a fair estimate for repairs.

[retiredguy123]

Ryan O'Cull, 352-207-5668 is very popular in The Villages for garage door repair. He replaced my springs in December for $325. He usually will show up within an hour of calling him. Another guy who does the same work is Scott, 352-697-0321.

I am not sure replacing the springs before they break is a good thing to do, but, it is a good idea to inspect the springs occasionally. On some doors, one spring can break, but the door will still open. A broken spring will have a gap in the spring.

[JoelJohnson]

I remember when I was a kid playing ping pong in our basement when all of a sudden "BANG" one of the springs flew by my head!
After that my father installed a safety wire that goes through the spring and is attached at both ends.

[Lottoguy]

This is why people should NEVER walk under a garage door why its still opening. Especially a dog. They will come down like a guillotine.

[eremite06]

My house is 18 yrs old. Just had Ryan replace my springs. He said the new ones are not as good as the old. I don't know what a center bearing is. Also, had Scott replace my door motor, bearing wheels with sealed nylon ones and the bottom door seal. All for just under $1000. Both jobs combined.

[rjm1cc]

Several years ago I paid about 380 but this included replacing the pulley wheels too. Probably spent over an hour.
When mine broke I could open the door by running the opener and pulling up on the door to replace the work the spring did. Closing was ok.

[Arlington2]

Had Ryan O'Cull replace my pair of garage door springs a few months ago. I think it was $325. That was my second use of Ryan. He is on the very short list for when I have my next garage door problem

[Babubhat]

Ryan ocull is top notch. Fair prices

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by JoelJohnson

I remember when I was a kid playing ping pong in our basement when all of a sudden "BANG" one of the springs flew by my head!
After that my father installed a safety wire that goes through the spring and is attached at both ends.

I too was a kid a long time ago. I am a lot older. Not sure the advantage of the springs in our current garage door, the type is a cylinder across the top of the door-perhaps no springs running down either side of the garage door holding the weight of the door through cables. Long story short. I replaced the old style side springs in our previous home. One broke, and I replaced both of them. They were not new when we bought the house. They ONLY lasted us 40 years. The original springs did not have a safety cable the replacements came with them.

Playing PING PONG in the basement? I still recall my mother knew, that a ping pong ball didn't break the basement window. They had a big basement. My stickball home run went through the basement window into the neighbor's backyard. I learned how to cut glass and repair a window.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by Catalina36

Recently one morning I went to open my garage door. The door opened about a foot I then heard a bang the door slammed close and then would not open again. Ok, so I called a repair company " Florida Garage Door Pro's". I usually get several estimates for any repair work being done. But this time, I needed to get the door open. There was no time to start calling and waiting days to have several repairmen show up for an estimate of repairs. Ok, they arrived the same day I called and the repairman looked at the job and stated you have a broken torsion spring. There are two above your door. A left and a right. Recommended having both of them replaced along with the center bearing. Ok, gave me a repair cost of $530.00. At that point what can I do I needed the garage door open. Ok, go ahead with the repairs. The new torsion springs were a grade higher than the original, more heavy duty. The repairman was experienced and no joke did the entire repair and was in and out in 35 minutes. I looked on Amazon and the cost of the parts was $180.00. Now mind you their wholesale cost is most likely cheaper then my cost. Yes, do I feel I was over charged. I guess what I am suggesting here is my house is 18 years old and I had the original garage door springs. Don't wait for your garage door springs to break. Have them replaced before and maybe you can call around and get a fair estimate for repairs.

Sorry to hear. of your experience. I've heard others suggest some of these people have higher prices for Villagers-Probably true of some.

I have a friend who is cantankerous but sadly often right. A repair how do they come up with a price? You say the springs are $180 at Amazon. Assuming that is correct and the shop pays about that. They do not pay much less. According to my friend they will double the cost of parts on the bill. Sometimes they will try not to show parts and labor making too easy for you to question the bill. But the math is shockingly often correct 180x2=360 plus 180=540 coincidence?

Years ago when I had a boat. The guy before me on line was, truth I don't recall, a plumber perhaps. He was buying a part for his boat and the counter guy was explaining why it is so expensive. Reply from the ????? plumber, It's ok I will add it onto my next job.

A grade higher than what you had 18 years ago? They are springs. Eighteen years ago they may will have been made in USA. Replacements may well be made in CHINA-not famous for quality. They are famous for CHEAP. Heavier is not right. It is a balancing act. You do not lift the door. The small electric motor, if you have an electric garage door opener does not lift the weight of the door. The springs do most of the lifting and you or the electric motor lift a small part of the weight-like a couple of pounds.

IT IS NOT JUST YOU. We had a guy come over to kick out our carpet. His pitch i will come over and give you an estimate-I may be able to do it while I'm there. Tired not worth an I told you so. kIck out two rooms. carpet in good shape. NO MATERIALS, just under an hour work CHARGE $250. I expected about $100 LESS. Truth, he showed up on time and did a good job.

[Topspinmo]

With two springs and aluminum door (especially 1/1/2 garage door.) You should of been able to pull the emergency rope and lift the door open using pair of vise grips to hole it open. If not that strong 💪 could of grabbed couple volunteers. The one at my previous home had 4 springs when one broke I could still lift it to get vehicles out.

You didn’t take 15 or 30 minute to find reliable reasonable repair guy. So you have to pay the piper. Sometime quick costs more especially when call first guy on list with no recommendations. We all been in that situation during or lives. Caulk it up to learning experience.

[Luggage]

Springs are a lot less at Lowe's or Home Depot, romac which is local

[oneclickplus]

Originally Posted by Luggage

Springs are a lot less at Lowe's or Home Depot, romac which is local

Agreed. And they are easy to change on your own. Don't believe all the hoopla about how dangerous garage door springs can be. You change the spring(s) with the door open; that is, when there is no tension on the springs. Easy and safe - just follow instructions. Youtube is your friend. I have replaced garage door springs at least a dozen times in my life and I haven't spend $350 total to do all of them. My last time was this past September: $30 for pair of springs a Lowe's and couple of retention cables.

Buy the correct size springs for your door. It's all about the weight of the door. Your broken springs have a color painted on them. Buy springs with the same color as that indicates the load it is designed for. Springs are sold in pairs. Change them BOTH even if only one broke.

[retiredguy123]

///

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by oneclickplus

Agreed. And they are easy to change on your own. Don't believe all the hoopla about how dangerous garage door springs can be. You change the spring(s) with the door open; that is, when there is no tension on the springs. Easy and safe - just follow instructions. Youtube is your friend. I have replaced garage door springs at least a dozen times in my life and I haven't spend $350 total to do all of them. My last time was this past September: $30 for pair of springs a Lowe's and couple of retention cables.

Buy the correct size springs for your door. It's all about the weight of the door. Your broken springs have a color painted on them. Buy springs with the same color as that indicates the load it is designed for. Springs are sold in pairs. Change them BOTH even if only one broke.

My garage door had two springs, one of which was about 12 inches shorter than the other one. The shorter spring broke, and the door would still open and close with the motor. That is why I think it is a good idea to inspect your springs to see if one of them is broken. Ryan O'Cull said that the builder uses unevenly sized springs, but he replaced both springs with the larger size. Go figure.