Springs do the heavy lifting on a garage door, not the opener. A typical two-car door weighs well over a hundred pounds, and the springs are wound or stretched to balance almost all of that weight. When one breaks, the door suddenly feels like dead weight, and that is exactly why it becomes dangerous.
Signs your spring is broken
- A loud bang from the garage, often when nobody was using the door. Springs usually snap while under full tension, which sounds like a gunshot or a heavy object falling.
- A visible gap in the spring. On a torsion spring (the one mounted on a bar above the door), you'll see a gap of a couple of inches between coils where it separated.
- The door lifts a few inches and stops, or the opener hums and strains but nothing moves. Many openers are built to stop when the load is too heavy.
- The door slams down or looks crooked as it closes, or one side rises faster than the other.
- Loose or dangling cables on either side of the door.
What to do right now
- Stop using the opener. Running it against a door with a broken spring can strip the opener's gears or burn out its motor, and it can pull the door off its tracks.
- Leave the door where it is if it's closed. A closed door with a broken spring is not going anywhere, and your home is still secure.
- If the door is stuck open, keep people, pets and cars out from under it. A door without working springs can drop fast.
- Don't pull the red emergency release cord while the door is open. That cord disconnects the door from the opener. With a broken spring, nothing would be holding the door up.
- Unplug the opener so nobody hits the button out of habit.
Why spring repair is not a DIY job
Torsion springs store a huge amount of energy. Winding or unwinding them takes proper winding bars and a specific procedure, and a slip can cause serious hand, arm or face injuries. Extension springs (the long springs that run along the horizontal tracks on some older doors) can whip loose with real force if they aren't secured with safety cables.
Springs are sold online, and videos make the job look quick. The risk is in the stored tension, and it isn't worth it. A trained technician does this every day with the right tools.
Torsion vs. extension springs
- Torsion springs mount on a metal bar above the door opening and twist to store energy. They're the most common setup on modern doors and give smoother, more balanced travel.
- Extension springs run parallel to the horizontal tracks and stretch as the door closes. They should always have a safety cable running through the center.
A technician may suggest converting from extension to torsion springs if your door has had repeated problems. That is a real upgrade for some doors, but it isn't required for every home. Ask why they're recommending it.
Should you replace both springs?
If your door has two springs and one broke, most technicians recommend replacing both. They were installed at the same time and have been through the same number of open-and-close cycles, so the second one is usually close behind. Replacing both also keeps the door balanced. It's a reasonable recommendation, not an upsell, as long as it's explained.
What a good technician will check
A proper spring repair isn't just swapping the spring. Expect the technician to:
- Match the spring size to your door's weight and height, not just grab what's on the truck.
- Inspect the cables, drums, rollers and center bearing, which often wear alongside the springs.
- Test the door's balance by hand after the repair. A well-balanced door should stay put about halfway up.
- Test the opener's safety reverse and photo eyes before leaving.
How to make springs last longer
Springs are rated for a certain number of cycles, where one open plus one close counts as one cycle. The more you use the door, the sooner they wear out. A few habits help:
- Lubricate the springs lightly a couple of times a year with a garage-door or silicone spray, not grease.
- Watch for rust, gaps or a door that starts to feel heavier than usual.
- If you use your garage door as your main entrance, ask about higher-cycle springs next time they're replaced.
Get a vetted technician
Tell us what you're seeing and your ZIP code, and we'll connect you with an independent, licensed and insured garage door technician in your area. It's free to ask, and you get the price in writing before any work starts.
More guides
This guide is general information, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Springline is a referral service, not a contractor.