5 Signs Your Garage Door Spring Is About to Break
A broken garage door spring is the most common — and most dangerous — garage door failure. The spring holds 200+ pounds of tension. When it snaps, it sounds like a gunshot and can cause serious injury. Here are 5 warning signs to watch for.
1. Your Door Is Heavier Than Usual
Try the manual test: disconnect the opener and lift the door halfway by hand. A healthy door should stay in place. If it feels noticeably heavy or slides down, your springs are losing tension. This is the earliest warning sign — don't ignore it.
2. Visible Gap in the Spring Coil
Look at the torsion springs above your door (the thick coils on the metal shaft). If you see a visible gap — where the coil has separated — the spring is already broken or about to be. Do not operate the door. Call a professional immediately.
3. The Door Opens Unevenly or Crooked
If one side of the door lifts faster than the other, one spring may be weakened or broken while the other is still functioning. This puts extreme stress on the working spring, the cables, and the opener — and it's only a matter of time before a complete failure.
4. Loud Bang From the Garage
If you heard a loud bang — like a firecracker — from your garage and the door won't open, the spring has already snapped. This is not something to fix yourself. Broken spring replacement requires professional tools and training. Call 855-335-5508 for same-day repair.
5. Your Springs Are More Than 7-8 Years Old
Standard torsion springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles (one open + one close = 1 cycle). For a typical household that's 7-10 years. If your springs are approaching that age, proactive replacement is far cheaper and safer than waiting for failure. In hot climates like Phoenix or Houston, springs may fail in as little as 5-7 years.
What to Do Next
If you notice any of these signs, stop using the door and call a licensed technician. Spring replacement takes 45-90 minutes and typically costs $150–$350 for a pair. It's one of the most common repairs we do — we carry springs for every door brand on our trucks.
Need Garage Door Help?
Our licensed technicians are available 24/7 for same-day service.
Call 855-335-5508