Broken Garage Door Spring

How to tell a spring is broken

• A sudden, loud bang from the garage — often when nobody is using the door
• A visible gap in the coiled spring on the bar above the door
• The opener strains, clicks, or runs, but the door lifts only a few inches or not at all
• The door feels extremely heavy when you try to lift it by hand
• The door comes down much faster than usual
• The door hangs crooked, or a cable has gone slack

Why the door stops working

The springs, not the opener, carry the weight of a garage door. Most doors use torsion springs mounted on a shaft above the opening; some older or lighter doors use extension springs that run along the horizontal tracks. Either way, every spring is built for a limited number of open-and-close cycles and eventually wears out. Once one breaks, the opener is left trying to lift the full weight of the door on its own, which it isn’t designed to do.

What to do until we get there

• Stop pressing the opener button — repeated attempts can strain the motor and gears.
• If the door is stuck open, don’t pull the red emergency release cord. Without a working spring, the door can drop hard.
• Keep people, pets, and cars out from under the door.
• Don’t try to unwind, adjust, or replace the spring yourself. Springs are under high tension and can cause serious injury.

Spring replacement with Metro Garage Solutions

We give free estimates with no obligation and go over the cost with you before starting. We aim to reach most repair calls the same day or the next, and we warranty our parts and workmanship. MHIC license #05-147422.