Your garage door works hard every day, and behind its smooth operation are springs that endure an incredible amount of stress. When one of those starts to wear out or broken garage door spring, it can turn a simple task into a dangerous situation. Knowing the early warning signs of a broken garage door spring can help you avoid unexpected repairs and potential injury.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to quickly diagnose the problem, why springs fail, and when it’s time to call a professional.
Understanding the Role of Garage Door Springs
Garage door springs are what make it possible to lift your heavy door. There are two main types:
Torsion springs: Installed on top of the door, they twist and store energy to lift the door smoothly.
Extension springs: Located on the sides, they stretch to support the movement of the door.
When a spring breaks, your garage door loses balance and becomes excessively heavy, making it difficult – and unsafe – to operate it manually or with an opener.
Door opens unevenly or doesn’t open at all
The most obvious sign of a worn or broken garage door spring is when the door refuses to open properly. If only one spring is broken, your door may open halfway or swing to one side. This imbalance indicates that one side is no longer supporting the weight.
If the door won’t open at all, both springs may be damaged. Stop using your opener immediately to avoid damaging the motor.
You hear a loud bang in the garage
When a spring breaks, it releases a huge amount of stress that often produces a loud bang, similar to a firecracker. Many homeowners mistake this for something falling, but in reality, it is the sound of a waterfall breaking.
If you hear this noise and then your door stops working properly, chances are you’re dealing with a broken garage door.
The door feels too heavy
Garage doors are designed to feel lightweight due to spring assistance. If your door suddenly feels unusually heavy when lifted by hand, this is a strong indication that the spring has failed.
Without the counterbalance spring, you are carrying the full weight of the door – which can easily exceed 150-300 pounds. This is both unsafe and a clear indicator that professional repair is needed.
Gap in spring coils
Look carefully at the torsion spring on the top of your door. A healthy spring is tightly wound, with uniform turns. When a spring breaks, you’ll often see a noticeable gap between the coils – about two inches or more.
This gap is where the metal breaks, which means the spring is no longer providing tension. It is necessary to replace it immediately to prevent further damage.
Door opens too fast or jerks upward
A door that opens too quickly or jerks upward may indicate that the springs are not properly balanced. While this may seem convenient, it actually means that the broken garage door springs have worn out unevenly or that one is about to go bad.
Ignoring this problem can cause the garage door spring to suddenly break, potentially causing the door to close unexpectedly.
Cables look loose or broken
Sometimes, when a spring breaks, it causes the lifting cables to become loose or hang awkwardly. If you see dangling or broken cables, do not attempt to repair them yourself, they are under extreme stress.
A professional technician should inspect both the cables and springs to ensure safe and proper operation.
Door opener struggles or freezes midway
If your garage door opener is feeling strained, making a grinding noise, or stopping halfway, it is probably compensating for a loss of spring tension. Continuing to use it in this condition may burn the motor.
Turn off the opener and immediately inspect the broken garage door spring to avoid further mechanical problems.
Why do garage door springs break?
Even with proper care, springs have a limited lifespan. Here are the most common causes of failure:
Normal wear and tear: Most springs last about 10,000 cycles (one open and close equals one cycle).
Lack of maintenance: Without lubrication, friction increases and weakens the metal.
Rusting: Rusting causes springs to become brittle and break.
Extreme temperature changes: Heat and cold cause metal to expand and contract, causing stress cracks.
How to Prevent Garage Door Springs from Breaking
Although you can’t maintain springs forever, you can extend their life with simple maintenance:
Lubricate moving parts every three months using a silicone-based spray.
Regularly inspect the coils for rust or gaps.
Keep moisture away from the springs to reduce corrosion.
Schedule a professional tune-up annually to check balance and tension.
These small steps can add years to the life of your spring and prevent unexpected breakage.
Why shouldn’t you replace springs yourself?
Replacing a broken garage door spring may look simple on YouTube, but it’s one of the most dangerous DIY repairs. Springs become wound due to excessive tension – enough to cause serious injury if mishandled.
Professional technicians have the tools and experience to safely release and reinstall the springs. Hiring a professional ensures that your door is properly balanced and safe to use.
Conclusion
Your garage door springs play a vital role in keeping your system balanced, safe, and efficient. Knowing how to recognize the early signs of a broken garage door spring like rattling noises, uneven movement, or visible coil gaps – can help you take action before disaster strikes.
Don’t wait for complete failure. Regular maintenance and professional inspections can save you time, money and potential injury. If you suspect a spring problem, contact your local garage door repair experts immediately.
Questions to ask
- How long do garage door springs last?
Typically, depending on use and maintenance, 7-10 years or about 10,000 cycles. - Can I open my garage door if the spring is broken?
No, this is unsafe and may damage the opener. Always wait for professional repair. - What causes a garage door spring to break?
Wear and tear, corrosion, temperature changes and poor maintenance are the main reasons for this. - Can I replace just one spring?
Both springs should be replaced together to maintain balance and prevent uneven wear. - How can I make my springs last longer?
Lube regularly, avoid excessive use, and schedule an annual tune-up with a professional.