How do I know my garage door springs are weak or about to break?

Often you cannot tell in advance, because springs can break without obvious warning. When they do give clues, the door usually starts to feel heavier, moves unevenly or makes the opener work harder than it used to. Any of these means the door needs an inspection before you keep relying on it.

Warning signs of weak springs

• The opener strains, slows down or reverses on the way up
• The door rises unevenly or one side lags behind
• The door comes down harder or faster than it used to
• The door has become noticeably heavier
• Rust on the coils, or springs that look stretched or uneven
• The springs are original on an older home and the door sees heavy daily use

Signs it may already be broken

A visible gap in a torsion spring's coil usually means the spring has already broken, not that it is about to. The same goes for a door that will not lift after a loud bang. In those cases, stop using the door. See signs of a broken spring.

Why you should not test it yourself

Do not pull the emergency release or lift the door by hand to check for suspected spring damage. A weak or broken spring can leave the door too heavy to hold, and it may drop. Keep clear and call. On an inspection, we first confirm the door and cables are safe, then check balance, spring condition and the opener. If the springs are near the end of their life, we explain the replacement options, including a higher cycle rating for a busy door. A yearly tune-up includes a spring inspection and is a good time to catch wear early.

Read more

• Garage door spring replacement
• Garage door tune-up
• Garage door springs guide

Related questions

• How can I tell if a garage door spring is broken?
• Can a broken spring stop a garage door from opening?
• Can I use or close my garage door with a broken spring?
• Are high-cycle garage door springs worth the extra cost?
• Should I replace one garage door spring or both?

Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.