Your garage door spring does all the heavy lifting. Learn the warning signs of a failing spring before it snaps and traps your car.
Most homeowners assume the motor does all the work of lifting and lowering the garage door. In reality, the heavy lifting is done by the garage door springs. These tightly wound steel coils act as a counterbalance to the immense weight of the door, allowing the motor (or your own hands) to lift it easily.
1. The Door Feels Heavy
If you disconnect the automatic opener by pulling the emergency release cord and try to lift the door manually, it should feel relatively light and balance easily in the middle of its track. If it feels extremely heavy or slams to the floor when you let go, your springs have likely lost their tension and are failing.
2. Crooked Operation
For garage doors with extension springs (one on each side of the tracks), one spring often breaks before the other. This causes the door to lift unevenly, moving crookedly in its tracks. Continued use in this state will quickly strip the gears in your opener and bend the tracks.
3. Loud Bang from the Garage
When a torsion spring finally breaks, it uncoils with an immense amount of force. This often sounds like a loud gunshot or a firecracker going off inside the garage. If you hear a loud bang and subsequently cannot open your door, a broken spring is the prime suspect.
Safety Warning
Garage door springs are under extreme tension. Attempting to replace them without proper training and specialized tools is highly dangerous and can result in severe injury. Always call a professional.
What to Do Next
If you suspect your springs are failing or have broken, stop using the door immediately. Operating an opener with a broken spring will quickly burn out the motor. Contact our team to have the springs safely replaced with high-cycle, durable alternatives.
For ongoing care, book our annual garage door servicing.