Is there a difference between the garage door openers you sell vs. the ones I could buy from Home Depot or Lowes?

The openers we sell are Liftmaster professional brand openers that are constructed with solid beam rail rather than a three-piece, butted together rail unit made for retail stores. The three-piece rail flexes and has a tendency to make a lot of noise and have many problems in the future. If you have a problem with an opener you buy at a retail outlet you will have to take it down and return it for the warranty. You will typically save $80 purchasing from a retail store, but it is not worth the headache and aggravation we have heard from our customers. We can furnish and install a professional grade opener in about one hour and it will be warranted for one year.

What type of garage door openers do you use or recommend?

We recommend Liftmaster operators for almost all of the jobs we do. Liftmaster has proven themselves to be the best, and most reliable, garage door manufacturer around. They have a full range of motors for every budget and application, with a complete list of accessories to go with them. Liftmaster offers chain drive, screw drive, belt drive and direct drive units.

Our door feels really heavy, do we need new springs?

You probably don’t need new springs—the door is likely out of balance. We can “add winds” to the torsion springs to make the door come up easier. During maintenance or a tune-up, we adjust the springs, tracks, hinges, operator, or any necessary component. If the springs are rusty or over 10 years old, we may recommend replacement. Tilt-up doors can also be balanced by adjusting pivot points.

Our door came off the tracks and it’s 10pm, Help! What do we do?

Do not attempt to force the door down—the door could fall and cause injury. There is extreme tension on the cables and springs. If you can’t wait until morning, CityScape offers Emergency Service if needed.

What is the typical lifespan of a spring?

Our replacement springs typically last 7–12 years with normal use. Heavy usage shortens lifespan, while infrequent use can extend it. 10,000-cycle springs are standard with a 5-year warranty. “20 year” springs are also available. Cheaper doors may have springs that last only 1–5 years.

Should I replace anything else on my door when I replace the springs?

If all components are in good condition, no further replacement is needed. However, we do recommend replacing the lift cables along with the springs. The torsion tube may also need replacement depending on wear.

Should I use my door if one of the springs is broken?

DO NOT use your garage door with a broken spring. Doing so could damage the operator, dislodge the door from its tracks, or cause personal injury or property damage. Call for immediate service.

My door only has 1 spring setup and it’s a 2 car garage. Should I replace it with 1 or 2 springs?

We advise using 2 springs instead of 1 for two-car garage doors. This provides better balance and longer lifespan for the torsion spring system.

Can I buy the spring myself and install it?

Some companies may sell springs, but most will not due to liability risks. Torsion springs are dangerous to replace without training. We do not sell torsion springs to homeowners—only to licensed, insured contractors.

If one spring is broken, do I need to replace both?

While not mandatory, it is highly advised. When one spring breaks, the other is usually close to failure. Replacing both at once saves money and prevents downtime.