Broken Garage Door Spring: Signs and What to Do
A loud bang, a heavy door, an opener that strains. Here is how to tell if a spring broke, what to do in the first minutes, and what not to do.
How to tell a garage door spring broke
Springs hold most of the door weight. When one breaks, the door suddenly feels far heavier than it should.
- A loud bang from the garage, like a shot or a dropped tool
- The door will not open, or the opener runs and the door barely moves
- The door lifts a few inches and drops
- A visible gap in the coiled spring above the door (torsion system)
- A spring along the side track that is stretched out, snapped or hanging (extension system)
- The door feels extremely heavy if you release it from the opener
- The door looks crooked or one side hangs lower, which can mean a cable also let go
Garage door stuck or not working right?
Call now. We give you a price range on the phone and a written quote on site. Same day service is available.
Call 877-591-6531Email usWhat to do right now
- Stop using the openerIt can burn out trying to lift a door the spring no longer holds.
- Keep people and pets awayKeep kids and pets clear of the door area.
- Do not touch the springs, cables or bottom bracketsThey hold stored force and can injure you.
- If the door is down, leave it downIf it is up, do not stand under it and do not pull the red release cord while it is up.
- Call a technicianWe give you a price range on the phone: 877-591-6531. See emergency garage door repair.
What not to do
- Do not lift a heavy door by hand and hold it up with a ladder or a stick
- Do not run the opener on a door that feels heavy
- Do not loosen set screws or bars on the spring
- Do not use a screwdriver or a wrench as a winding tool
- Do not buy a spring from a store and try to match it by eye
Get same day garage door repair in Roanoke
Tell us what you see and hear. A technician can be on the way today.
Call 877-591-6531Email usWhy garage door springs break
Springs wear by cycles, not by calendar. Every open and close is one cycle. Many standard springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles, roughly seven years at four uses a day. A 20,000 cycle spring lasts about twice as long under the same use. Rust, a door that is out of balance and extra weight such as a new insulation kit can shorten spring life. In Roanoke, a worn spring often gives out on a cold morning, when the door gets used hard after sitting still.
What happens when a technician replaces the spring
- Inspect the whole doorCables, drums, bearings, rollers and tracks.
- Match the springWire size, inside diameter, length and cycle rating that fit the door weight.
- Replace both springsA matched pair wears evenly.
- Balance and testThe door should stay put halfway up, and the auto reverse and sensors are tested.
More detail on our garage door spring repair in Roanoke page. For prices, see spring replacement cost.
Do not risk a broken spring or cable
Springs and cables hold stored force. Call a certified technician instead of trying it yourself.
Call 877-591-6531Email usBroken spring questions
Can I still open my garage door manually with a broken spring?
A door with a broken spring is very heavy, and it can drop or hurt your back. If a car is stuck inside, use the red cord only with the door closed, lift slowly and stop if it is too heavy. Then call us.
Should I replace both springs?
Usually yes. They have the same age and wear, and a second visit costs more.
Is a broken spring an emergency?
If the door will not open, it can trap a car or leave the garage unsecured. Same day service is available. Call 877-591-6531.
How much does a spring replacement cost?
Published ranges are about $160 to $350 including labor, and we give you a price range for your own door on the phone. See our cost guide.
Need a garage door repaired in Roanoke?
Call 877-591-6531 and tell us what you see and hear. You get a price range on the phone and a written quote before any work starts. Same day service is available.
877-591-6531