Why Ashland Winters Are So Hard on Garage Door Springs (And What to Do About It)
2026-03-17 7 min read
If you've ever walked into your garage on a January morning, hit the opener button, and heard nothing but a loud bang. you already know what a broken spring sounds like. It's one of the most common calls we get here in Ashland, and it almost always happens in the dead of winter. That's not a coincidence.
Ashland sits in a part of north-central Ohio where winters hit hard. Temperatures regularly drop into the teens and below, and the area averages around 35 inches of snow per year. well above the national average. That kind of sustained cold isn't just uncomfortable for you; it's genuinely punishing to the steel components in your garage door system.
Why Cold Weather Targets Your Springs First
Garage door springs are made of tightly wound steel, and steel contracts when it gets cold. As the metal contracts, it becomes more brittle and less flexible. meaning it's much more susceptible to snapping under the tension it carries every time your door cycles open and closed. If your springs are already worn from years of use, a stretch of sub-freezing weather can be the final straw.
There's another factor that compounds the problem. Cold temperatures cause lubricants to thicken or dry out entirely. When rollers, hinges, and springs aren't moving freely, the whole system works harder than it should. putting even more strain on springs that may already be near the end of their life cycle. Your opener motor ends up compensating for that extra resistance, which shortens its lifespan too.
Ashland homeowners tend to feel this more acutely than folks in, say, Lexington or Mansfield, simply because of how frequently temperatures dip below freezing here from November through March. It's not unusual for us to see a string of spring failures in February right after a hard cold snap.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Springs rarely fail without giving you some advance notice. The trick is knowing what to look for before you're stuck with a door that won't open at 7 a.m. Here are the red flags:
- The door feels unusually heavy when you lift it manually. Springs counterbalance the weight of the door. when they're weakened, you feel that weight. - Jerky or uneven movement. the door stops and starts, or one side rises faster than the other. - Popping, squeaking, or rattling sounds during operation, especially in cold weather. - A visible gap in the spring coil. if you can see a separation in the spring, it's already broken. - The door closes faster than normal. a broken spring can cause the door to drop, which is a genuine safety hazard.
If you're noticing any of these issues, don't wait. Take a look at our services page to understand what a professional inspection covers and what to expect.
What You Can Do Right Now
There are a few practical things you can do as a homeowner to extend the life of your springs through an Ohio winter:
Lubricate Every Fall. Not Just Once
Apply a silicone-based or lithium-based garage door lubricant to your springs, hinges, and rollers before cold weather sets in. Skip the WD-40; it's a solvent, not a true lubricant, and it evaporates too quickly in cold temperatures. Get into the habit of doing this in October, before temperatures start dropping consistently below freezing.
Test Your Door's Balance
Disconnect the opener by pulling the red emergency release cord, then manually lift the door to waist height and let go. A properly balanced door should stay put. If it slowly falls or rises on its own, your springs are likely out of balance and need attention. This is a quick check you can do in five minutes.
Don't Force a Struggling Door
If your door is straining or making unusual noises, don't keep hammering the opener button. Forcing a door with compromised springs can burn out the opener motor or cause the spring to snap suddenly. Stop using it and call for service. We cover Ashland and the surrounding area. including Wooster and Loudonville. so help is never far away.
Consider a Pre-Winter Inspection
A professional inspection in October or early November is the smartest thing you can do. A technician can identify worn springs, lubricate all moving parts, and make sure your system is actually ready for what our winters throw at it. This is far cheaper than an emergency repair call in February.
For more on getting your door ready before temperatures drop, our post on cold weather preparation walks through the full seasonal checklist.
Should You Replace Both Springs at Once?
If one spring breaks, it's almost always worth replacing both at the same time. even if the second one looks fine. Springs are typically installed as a pair, meaning they've gone through the same number of cycles under the same conditions. When one fails, the other is usually not far behind. Replacing both at once saves you from paying for a second service call a few months later.
This is also the reason you want a pro handling the job. Torsion springs store an enormous amount of tension. they can cause serious injury if released improperly. This is one repair that is genuinely not a DIY project.
Ready to get your springs checked before the next cold snap rolls in? Reach out to our team and we'll get you scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long do garage door springs typically last? A: Most springs are rated for around 10,000 cycles. one cycle being a single open-and-close. For a household that uses the door four times a day, that works out to roughly seven years. Colder climates like ours in Ashland can accelerate wear, so err on the side of having springs inspected after five to six years of use.
Q: Can I still use my garage door if a spring is broken? A: Technically you might be able to force it, but you shouldn't. Your opener is not designed to lift the full weight of the door without spring assistance. Continuing to use it risks burning out the motor and could cause the door to drop unexpectedly, which is a safety hazard.
Q: Why does my garage door work fine in summer but struggle in winter? A: Cold weather causes metal to contract and lubricants to thicken. Springs that are worn but still functioning in warmer months often fail once temperatures drop consistently below freezing. It's worth having them inspected heading into fall, before the problem shows up on a cold morning.