A broken garage door spring is not a fix-it-yourself repair. The spring holds the door's full weight under tension, and releasing or replacing it without the right bars and technique can cause serious injury. If you heard a bang and the door will not lift, or lifts only a few inches, stop using it and call for a replacement.
How to Tell the Spring Is Broken
- A loud bang from the garage, often mistaken for a car backfiring or something falling.
- The door will not open, or only opens a few inches before stalling.
- You can see a visible gap in the coil of a torsion spring above the door.
- The door drops quickly when closing instead of lowering evenly.
- The door looks crooked, with one side lower than the other.
Why It's Dangerous to Fix Yourself
A spring break can release stored energy suddenly, while another spring and connected hardware may still be loaded. The door also remains heavy and may be unsupported. Removing or installing one means winding or unwinding it under control with bars sized to the spring, working close to a shaft that can whip if a bar slips. There is no safe shortcut version of this job.
What You Can Safely Do
- Stop pressing the opener button. With a broken spring the motor is lifting the door's full weight, which can burn it out.
- Do not pull the emergency release while the door is open or stuck partway; without spring tension it can drop.
- Keep people and vehicles clear of the door and leave it where it is.
- Call for service and describe what you heard and saw.
What a Repair Visit Involves
We confirm the door is safe, weigh and measure for the correct spring, and quote the job before any work starts. Most residential doors use torsion springs mounted above the opening; some sectional doors use extension springs above the horizontal tracks instead. If one spring failed, we usually recommend replacing both, since they wear at close to the same rate. Full details are on our spring replacement page.
FAQ
How long does a garage door spring last?
Most builder-grade springs are rated around 10,000 cycles, about 7 years at four cycles per day; this is a usage estimate, not a lifespan guarantee.
Should I replace one spring or both?
If your door has two springs and one broke, we typically replace both. They were installed at the same time and see the same wear, so the second is usually close behind.
What does it cost to fix a garage door spring?
It depends on the spring type, size and whether cables or other hardware failed with it. See garage door spring replacement cost for what affects the price, or call for a firm number.
Can I use the garage door with a broken spring?
No. The opener was not built to lift the door's full weight, and the door can drop unexpectedly. Leave it closed and call for service.
Call (916) 838-8182 for same-day spring replacement in most cases. Repair visits carry a $45 diagnostic trip fee, with the price agreed before we start.
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