2026-04-09 7 min read
Keller homeowners deal with a climate that's genuinely hard on mechanical systems. Temperatures regularly swing from below freezing in January to over 100°F in August, and the humidity that rolls in from the south adds another layer of stress on metal components. If you've had a garage door spring snap sooner than you expected, you're not imagining it. North Texas conditions are a real factor.
Garage door springs work by storing and releasing tension every single time your door moves. That's a lot of work on its own. But in Keller, the metal is also constantly expanding and contracting with the temperature.
In summer, temps routinely push into the mid-to-upper 90s. Come January or February, a cold front can drop things below freezing overnight. Thermal cycling. this constant expansion and contraction of metal. gradually weakens the steel coils in your torsion or extension springs. It's the same principle that causes cracks in pavement over time.
The humidity here makes it worse. Rust and corrosion on metal springs, tracks, and rollers are a well-documented problem in humid Texas climates. Rust doesn't just look bad. it creates friction and weak points in the spring coil, accelerating failure.
Most Keller homes. whether you're in Hidden Lakes, Harmonson Farms, or one of the newer developments near Southlake Road. use one of two spring setups:
Torsion springs mount horizontally above the garage door. They're more durable, offer better balance, and are the standard on most doors built or replaced in the last 15,20 years. A quality torsion spring is typically rated for 10,000 cycles.
Extension springs run along the sides of the door, above the horizontal tracks. Older homes and some budget installations still use these. They're more prone to sudden snapping and, importantly, require safety cables to prevent the spring from becoming a projectile if it breaks.
If your Keller home was built in the late 1990s or early 2000s. when a lot of Hidden Lakes and Bourland Oaks development was happening. there's a real chance your original springs are either at or past their service life.
Don't wait for the loud bang at 6 a.m. These are the warning signs that your springs are struggling:
- The door feels heavy when you lift it manually. Disconnect your opener and try to raise the door by hand. It should stay up on its own at about waist height. If it's fighting you or drops back down, your springs aren't doing their job. - The door opens unevenly or one side sags. This usually means one spring has already failed or weakened more than the other. - There's a visible gap in the spring coil. A broken torsion spring will have a clear separation. This is a stop-everything situation. don't operate the door. - Grinding or creaking noises. If the springs are dry and starting to corrode, you'll hear them complaining before they fully give out.
First: stop using the door. Operating a garage door with a broken spring puts enormous strain on your opener motor and can damage the cables, drums, and even bend the door panels. The emergency access steps are worth reviewing now so you're not caught off guard.
Second: call a professional. This isn't the repair to DIY. Garage door springs are under several hundred pounds of tension. Even a slightly incorrect installation can result in a spring snapping violently during the next operation cycle. The risk isn't worth it.
Keller Garage Doors can typically handle spring replacements same-day or next-day. When we replace springs, we also check cable condition, drum alignment, and opener load. because a broken spring often reveals other wear that's been building up.
You can't completely outsmart the North Texas climate, but you can slow down the damage:
1. Lubricate your springs twice a year. once in spring before the heat sets in, and once in fall before the cold fronts arrive. Use a garage door-specific lubricant or white lithium grease. Avoid WD-40. it's a solvent, not a lubricant, and it can dry out the metal over time. 2. Keep the garage temperature stable if possible. If you have an insulated door and an attached garage, a basic thermostat can reduce the temperature extremes your springs endure. 3. Consider upgrading to high-cycle springs. Standard springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles. High-cycle versions go 25,000,50,000 cycles. If you're a household that uses the garage door 6,10 times a day (which is common when it's your main entry point), the upgrade pays for itself. 4. Don't ignore rust. If you see surface rust forming, address it early. Light surface rust can sometimes be treated with a wire brush and lubricant. Deep pitting means the spring should be replaced.
For a full picture of what regular upkeep actually saves you, the maintenance value breakdown is worth a read.
If one spring breaks and the other is original, replace both. Springs that were installed at the same time have gone through the same wear cycles. The second one failing within a few months of the first is extremely common. especially in a climate like Keller's where thermal stress accelerates aging. Paying for one labor visit to replace both is almost always the smarter call than two service calls six months apart.
If you want to get ahead of this or you're not sure how old your springs are, reach out to schedule an inspection. A quick look at the spring condition, cable wear, and balance test can tell you a lot about where things stand.
Most standard torsion springs are rated for around 10,000 cycles. In Keller, where temperature swings and humidity accelerate metal fatigue, real-world lifespan can be shorter than in milder climates. A household using the door 4 times a day will hit 10,000 cycles in about 7 years. High-cycle springs can extend that significantly.
Technically the door may still move with a broken spring, but you shouldn't use it. The opener has to work far harder than it was designed to, which can burn out the motor. Cables and drums also take on excess load and can fail. Treat a broken spring as an out-of-service situation until it's repaired.
Garage door springs operate under extreme tension. sometimes several hundred pounds of force. DIY spring replacement is one of the more dangerous home repair tasks and is a leading cause of serious garage-related injuries. Professional replacement is strongly recommended, and most techs can complete it in under an hour.