How Can I Tell a Garage Door Spring Is About to Fail?
A spring rarely fails without warning. The door starts to feel heavier, sits unevenly or closes harder, and the coil may show rust or a gap. Spotting the signs early lets you plan a repair instead of facing a stuck car.
Request a technicianWhere are the springs?
Most doors have torsion springs on a bar above the door. Some older or lighter doors have extension springs running along the side tracks.
What are the early warning signs?
The door slams down instead of settling, one side lifts faster than the other, the opener sounds strained, or the coils look rusty or stretched. A balance test helps: with the door closed, pull the emergency release and lift the door halfway. If it falls or shoots up, the springs need adjusting.
What does a broken spring look like?
A torsion spring that has snapped shows a clear gap in the coil. You may have heard a loud bang. The door will be very heavy and may lift only a few inches.
Why not fix it myself?
Springs store a large amount of energy. Winding or unwinding them without the right tools and training can cause serious injury. See spring repair to send a request.
How long do springs last?
It depends on how often the door is used. A door opened many times a day wears its springs out much sooner than one used twice a day.
What should I do if one breaks?
Stop using the opener, leave the door where it is and keep people away from it. If a car is trapped, say so when you send a request. Ask the technician whether both springs should be replaced and whether the cables and rollers are worn too, so you are not paying for a second visit a few months later.
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