Signs Your Garage Door Spring Has Broken
Springs do the heavy lifting in a garage door system. When one fails, the symptoms are usually hard to miss:
A Loud Bang From the Garage
A sharp crack or gunshot-like sound is the classic sign of a torsion spring releasing its stored energy. Many people hear it from elsewhere in the house.
A Door That Feels Extremely Heavy
Without spring assistance, a door can weigh well over a hundred pounds. If it barely moves by hand or the opener strains and stops, a spring is the likely cause.
Visible Gap or Slack Cables
Look at the spring above the door opening for a gap in the coils. A door that sits crooked, or cables that hang loose at the sides, also points to spring or cable failure.
Torsion vs. Extension Springs
Most residential doors use one of two spring systems, and the replacement process differs for each:
- Torsion springs mount on a steel shaft above the door opening and twist to counterbalance the door's weight. They give smoother, more controlled movement and are common on newer installations.
- Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door, stretching and contracting as the door moves. They are typical on older or lighter doors and are normally paired with safety cables.
Why Springs Are a Technician-Only Repair
Garage door springs hold a large amount of stored energy. A slipped winding bar or a failing spring can cause serious injury, which is why we do not encourage do-it-yourself spring work. Please do not try to wind, loosen or remove a spring yourself, and do not try to force a door open when a spring has broken. Keep people and vehicles clear of the door and call for a technician.
How Technicians Replace a Spring
- Secure the Door: The technician clamps the door in place so it cannot drop while the old spring is being released.
- Measure the Door: Door height, panel weight and track style determine the spring wire size and length needed to balance your specific door.
- Replace the Spring Assembly: The broken spring is removed and a correctly matched spring is installed with proper winding, using the right tools.
- Inspect Cables, Drums and Brackets: A snapping spring often damages the hardware around it, so the technician checks everything it touches.
- Balance and Safety Test: The door is lifted by hand to confirm it stays put halfway, then run through the opener to confirm smooth travel and auto-reverse.
When Should You Call a Pro?
- You heard a loud bang from the garage and the door will not lift.
- There is a visible gap in the coils of a spring.
- The door is crooked, or cables are loose or off their drums.
- The opener hums or strains but the door barely moves.
- The springs are rusted or showing wear and the door is slowing down.
Not sure whether it is the spring? See our garage door repair page for other common failures, or our maintenance page for how cold-weather care helps hardware last.
