5 Signs Your Garage Door Spring Is Broken or About to Break

Garage door springs do the heavy lifting every time your door opens. They are also the part most likely to fail without much warning. Knowing the signs can save you from being stuck with your car trapped inside.

1. You Heard a Loud Bang From the Garage

A torsion spring that breaks makes a sharp, loud snap, often described as sounding like a gunshot. If you heard that and the door now will not lift, the spring has almost certainly broken.

2. The Door Feels Very Heavy

A properly balanced door feels fairly light when lifted by hand with the opener disconnected. If it suddenly feels like you are lifting the full weight of the door, the springs are no longer doing their job.

3. The Opener Strains or Only Lifts a Few Inches

Openers are not designed to lift the full weight of a door. If the opener hums, struggles, or stops after lifting the door a few inches, a weak or broken spring is the likely cause. Stop using the opener to avoid damaging it.

4. You Can See a Gap in the Spring

Look at the torsion spring on the bar above the door. A broken spring will have a visible gap of a few inches between the coils. Extension springs on the sides may look stretched or hang loose.

5. The Door Is Crooked or Closes Too Fast

On doors with two springs, one broken spring can leave the door uneven. A door that slams shut or drops quickly also points to a spring problem.

Why Springs Break

Every spring is rated for a certain number of open and close cycles. Busy households hit that number sooner. Here on the coast, rust from salt air and humidity also weakens springs. Regular lubrication helps them last.

How Long Do Garage Door Springs Last?

Springs are rated for a certain number of open and close cycles. A household that uses the garage door several times a day will wear out springs faster than one that uses it once or twice. Along the coast, rust from salt air and humidity can shorten that life even more. If your springs are original to the house and the door gets heavy use, it is worth having them checked.

Torsion Springs vs Extension Springs

Torsion springs sit on a metal bar above the door and twist to lift it. When one breaks, you can usually see a gap in the coil. Extension springs run along the tracks on each side and stretch when the door closes. They should always have a safety cable running through them so a broken spring cannot fly across the garage.

Should You Replace Both Springs?

If your door has two springs that were installed at the same time, they have gone through the same number of cycles. When one breaks, the other is often close behind, so replacing both at once usually saves you a second service call.

Broken Spring FAQs

Can I still open my garage door with a broken spring? It is not recommended. The door can be very heavy and may drop suddenly. Call a professional.

Is it safe to replace a garage door spring myself? No. Springs hold a dangerous amount of tension, and spring repair is one of the most common causes of garage injuries.

How fast can a broken spring be fixed? We offer same day service on most jobs, and most spring replacements are finished in a single visit.

What to Do Next

• Do not keep running the opener
• Do not try to lift the door or adjust the spring yourself
• Keep people and pets away from the door
• Call a garage door professional

A&A Garage Door Solutions replaces broken springs throughout Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, Conway, Pawleys Island and nearby areas. See our garage door spring repair page, and check our current deals for a spring repair coupon.