Why Garage Door Springs Break More Often in Winter
Garage door springs break most often in winter because cold makes steel brittle, so a spring already near the end of its life is far more likely to snap when it is stiff and freezing. In the Chicago Southland, that is why spring failures spike from December through February.
Why cold weather breaks garage door springs
Steel loses flexibility as it cools, so a torsion or extension spring that flexes thousands of times a year becomes more fragile on a freezing Frankfort morning. Rapid swings — a warmer garage by day, sub-zero overnight — speed up metal fatigue.
Springs are rated for a set number of cycles, and one open-and-close is a single cycle. A standard spring lasts several years of normal use, but cold weather combined with heavy holiday-season use is often what pushes a worn spring over the edge.
Signs your spring is about to fail
- A loud bang from the garage, then a door that will not lift
- The door rises only a few inches and stops
- A visible gap in the torsion spring above the door
- The door feels extremely heavy when lifted by hand
- The opener strains, then gives up
Why you should never replace a spring yourself
Garage door springs store an enormous amount of energy under tension. Trying to adjust or replace one without the right winding tools and training can cause serious injury, which is why this is always a job for a trained technician rather than a weekend project.
Foremost is a family-owned garage door company serving Frankfort and the Southland since 1941. Need spring replacement? Call (708) 708-9525 — same-day, 7 days a week, 7 AM to 9 PM. Learn more about our spring replacement or our garage door service in Frankfort.
Frequently asked questions
How long do garage door springs last?
Most last several years of normal use. Frequent daily cycles and cold Illinois winters shorten that lifespan.
Can I still use my door if the spring broke?
No. A broken spring leaves the door’s full weight on the opener and cables, and it can fall. Stop using it and call for a same-day replacement.
Should I replace one spring or both?
If your door has two springs installed together and one breaks, the other is usually close behind — replacing both often saves a second service call.
Written by Adam Wright, co-owner of Foremost Garage Door Repair in Mokena, IL. Published September 23, 2026.