Springs do the real lifting work for your garage door. The opener only guides it. When a spring breaks, the door suddenly becomes very heavy, and trying to force it can damage the opener or hurt someone. Here are the most common signs.
A loud bang from the garage
Many people describe a sound like a gunshot or something falling. That is often a spring snapping under tension. The sound can happen when no one is near the door.
The door will not open, or only opens a few inches
If the opener runs but the door barely lifts, or the door will not lift by hand without a lot of effort, the springs are likely not doing their job.
A visible gap in the spring
On a torsion spring, which is the coiled spring mounted on a bar above the door, a break shows up as a gap in the coil. On an extension spring, which runs along the side of the door, the spring may be stretched out, or in pieces.
The door comes down fast, or hangs crooked
A door that slams shut, drops when it is partly open, or sits crooked can mean a spring or cable problem. Slack or frayed cables often go with it. See our page on broken garage door cables.
The opener strains or struggles
If the opener groans, the lights dim, or the door stops and reverses, the springs may be worn out or broken. Running the opener against a broken spring can wear out the motor and gear.
What to do
- Stop using the door, and do not try to lift it by hand if it feels very heavy.
- Do not touch the springs, the bar, or the brackets near them.
- Do not pull the red emergency release cord on a door that is open or partly open, because it can drop.
- Call a professional.
Springs are often replaced as a pair, because the second spring is the same age as the one that broke. We will check the whole system, including cables, rollers, and balance. Read about what affects spring replacement cost or see our spring repair and replacement page.
Broken spring? Call 612-910-3032. 24-hour emergency service is available, and emergency rates apply.