How can I tell if a garage door spring is broken?

A broken spring usually announces itself. Many homeowners hear a loud bang from the garage, sometimes when nobody is using the door. Afterward the door will not lift, rises only a few inches before the opener stops, or feels far too heavy to move. You can confirm most of the signs just by looking, without touching the door.

What to look for

• Torsion spring: on the bar above the closed door, look for a gap of a few inches somewhere along the coil. A healthy spring is one continuous, tight coil.
• Extension spring: along the tracks at each side, look for a spring that is hanging loose, stretched out of shape or separated.
• Crooked door: one side sits higher than the other in the opening.
• Opener behavior: the motor runs, strains or reverses, but the door barely moves.
• Loose cables: a cable hanging off a drum or pulley.

Signs that usually mean something else

A door that will not close all the way, a remote that does not respond or a blinking sensor light usually points to the opener or safety sensors, not a spring. If you did not hear a bang and the springs look intact, see whether a broken spring is what stopped your door for the other common causes.

Once you suspect a break

Stop using the opener, do not pull the emergency release and do not try lifting the door to test it. Keep people and cars clear and call for spring replacement. Spring work is not a do-it-yourself repair.

Read more

• Common garage door problems
• Garage door spring replacement
• Garage door repair

Related questions

• Can I use or close my garage door with a broken spring?
• How do I know my garage door springs are weak or about to break?
• Should I replace one garage door spring or both?
• Can a broken spring stop a garage door from opening?
• Why did my garage door spring break so soon?

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