Broken Garage Door Spring: Signs, Safety and Replacement

Springs counterbalance the weight of your garage door, which on a typical two-car door can be well over 100 pounds. When a spring breaks, the door suddenly becomes far heavier, and the opener usually can’t lift it.

Signs a spring has broken

• A loud bang from the garage, often when nobody was using the door.
• A visible gap in the coiled spring above the door (torsion) or a stretched or snapped spring along the side tracks (extension).
• The door opens a few inches and stops, or the opener strains and reverses.
• The door feels extremely heavy, or closes much faster than normal.
• Cables hanging loose beside the door.

Why you shouldn’t fix it yourself

Springs are under high tension. Winding or unwinding a torsion spring without the right tools and training can cause serious injury, and so can lifting or releasing a door with a broken spring. If you suspect a broken spring, keep the door closed, keep people and cars clear, and call a technician.

Torsion vs. extension springs

Torsion springs sit on a bar above the door and twist to lift it. They are the most common type on newer doors and give smoother, more balanced operation. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side and stretch as the door closes. They should always have safety cables running through them.

What replacement involves

A technician identifies the correct spring size for your door’s weight and height, replaces the spring (or both springs on a two-spring door), checks the cables, drums, rollers and hinges, then balances and tests the door. If your door is used many times a day, ask about higher-cycle springs.

Get help

PLL Garage Doors and Gates replaces torsion and extension springs across Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange Counties. Learn more about our spring replacement service or call (866) 219-6211, answered 24/7.

Frequently asked questions

How long do garage door springs last?

Standard torsion springs are commonly rated for about 10,000 open-and-close cycles. Higher-cycle springs are available for doors that are used many times a day.

Should both springs be replaced at the same time?

On doors with two springs, replacing both is usually recommended, because the second spring has the same wear and often fails soon after the first.

Can I replace a garage door spring myself?

It is not recommended. Springs store enough energy to cause serious injury. A trained technician uses the correct tools and spring size for your door.