Broken Garage Door Spring? Here’s What You Should Know
- Nicole Hamilton
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
If your garage door suddenly won’t open, slams shut, or feels unusually heavy when you try to lift it, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with a broken spring. It’s one of the most common garage door problems and one of the easiest to underestimate.
Truth is, most homeowners don’t think about garage door springs at all until something goes wrong. But these components are doing the hard work every single day, quietly managing the weight of a very heavy door. When one breaks, the system stops working the way it should. Sometimes it stops working altogether.
What Do Garage Door Springs Do, Anyway?
In a nutshell, garage door springs are responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the door. Without them, your opener would struggle or fail completely.
There are two main types:
Torsion springs, which sit above the door
Extension springs, which run along the sides
Both are tightly wound and under significant tension. That tension is what allows your door to open smoothly with minimal effort.
Signs Your Spring Is Broken
Sometimes it’s obvious. Sometimes it’s not.
Here are the most common signs:
A loud bang from the garage, often mistaken for something falling
The door opens a few inches and then stops
The opener runs, but the door doesn’t move
The door feels extremely heavy if you try to lift it manually
You see a visible gap in the spring
That loud bang is worth noting. When a torsion spring snaps, it releases stored energy all at once, which is why it can sound like something hit the wall.
Why Garage Door Springs Break
Garage door springs don’t last forever. Most are rated for about 10,000 cycles. One cycle equals one full open and close.
For a typical household, that’s about 7 to 10 years. If you use your garage door as your main entry point, it can wear out faster.
Other factors that contribute to spring failure include:
Normal wear and tear
Rust buildup
Lack of lubrication
Temperature fluctuations
Poor initial installation
Once one spring fails, the second one is usually not far behind. That’s why many technicians recommend replacing both at the same time.
Can I Use My Garage Door if My Garage Door Spring is Broken?
No. This is where people make things worse.
If a spring is broken, the door is no longer properly balanced. Trying to force it open with the automatic opener can burn out the motor or damage other parts of the system.
Trying to lift it manually can also be risky. These doors are heavy, and without the spring assisting, they can be difficult to control.
Why You Should Not DIY Garage Door Spring Replacement
There are plenty of home repairs you can handle yourself. This is not one of them.
Garage door springs are under extreme tension. If that tension is released improperly, it can cause serious injury. This isn’t theoretical. It happens every year.
The International Door Association recommends that spring repairs be handled by trained professionals due to the tools and expertise required.
Even if you’ve watched a few videos or feel confident with tools, the margin for error here is very small.
What to Expect from a Professional Repair
A typical spring replacement is relatively quick when handled by a trained technician.
During the visit, we will:
Inspect the entire system
Replace the broken spring (often both springs)
Check the balance of the door
Test the opener and safety features
In many cases, the repair can be completed in a single visit.
How to Prevent Garage Door Spring Problems
You can’t avoid wear entirely, but you can extend the life of your springs.
A few simple steps help:
Lubricate springs and moving parts a few times a year
Schedule periodic inspections
Listen for changes in how your door sounds or moves
If something feels off, it’s usually worth getting it checked before it becomes a bigger issue.
Trying to work around it or fix it yourself can lead to bigger problems, both for your door and your personal safety.
If your garage door suddenly stops working or feels unusually heavy, give us a call. The team at All Island Garage Door understands garage door springs and replace and repair them almost every day. We can fix your garage door spring quickly and correctly so you can get back to normal without added stress.
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