How to Tell If Your Garage Door Spring is Broken

Did you hear a loud BANG or gunshot sound from your garage? That's the #1 sign of a broken spring. When torsion springs break, they release 200+ pounds of stored force instantly. The metal snaps with a crack that sounds like a firecracker or gunshot. Neighbors have called police thinking someone fired a gun. If you heard this sound: Your spring is definitely broken. Skip to step 5 to see what to do next. Didn't hear anything? Continue to step 2. Springs can break silently if they're already partially failed.

Torsion springs are the large springs mounted horizontally above your garage door. They wrap around a metal shaft. Walk up to your door and look at the springs. A broken spring has a visible 2-3 inch gap where the metal snapped. You can't miss it. Most residential doors have TWO springs (one on each side of center). If one broke, you'll see one spring with a gap, one intact spring. Extension springs (the long springs that run parallel to the track on each side) will be hanging in two pieces if broken. If you see a gap: Your spring is broken. Skip to step 5.

If you don't see a visible break, test the door balance. This confirms spring failure. DISCONNECT THE OPENER FIRST: Pull the red emergency release cord to disengage the trolley from the door. Lift the door manually to about waist height (3-4 feet off the ground). Let go. Proper balance: The door stays in place or drifts slowly closed. Broken spring: The door DROPS rapidly. It feels incredibly heavy to lift - like lifting 200-300 pounds (because you are). If the door drops fast when you let go, your spring is broken or severely under-tensioned. In 9 years, I've seen maybe 5 cases where the door dropped but the spring wasn't broken - it was just severely under-tensioned. 95% of the time, rapid drop = broken spring.

Other signs that confirm spring failure: <strong>Opener motor runs but door doesn't move:</strong> The motor isn't strong enough to lift 300 pounds without spring assist. It strains and makes noise but the door barely budges. <strong>Door opens unevenly (one side higher):</strong> One spring broke but the other is intact. The intact spring pulls harder on its side, causing the door to twist as it opens. This is dangerous - stop using the door immediately. <strong>Cables came off the drums:</strong> When springs break, cables lose tension and slip off the cable drums at the top corners of the door. You'll see loose cable hanging. <strong>Door opens 6 inches then stops:</strong> Some openers have force sensors that detect excessive resistance. If the door is too heavy (broken spring), the opener auto-reverses to prevent motor damage. If you see any of these symptoms: Spring is broken or severely weakened.

You've confirmed the spring is broken. Here's what happens next: <strong>DO NOT use the garage door:</strong> Trying to open it manually is dangerous. Trying to force the opener to work burns out the motor ($300-400 repair on top of spring replacement). <strong>DO NOT attempt DIY replacement:</strong> This is the most dangerous garage door repair. YouTube makes it look easy. It's not. We see 2-3 DIY injury cases per year in Bend - broken fingers, facial injuries, crushed limbs. <strong>CALL A PROFESSIONAL:</strong> Spring replacement takes us 45-60 minutes. We bring the correct springs (most homes need both springs replaced, not just the broken one). Cost in Bend area: $250-350 including labor and springs. <strong>SAME-DAY SERVICE AVAILABLE:</strong> Call 541-203-7676. We typically have same-day or next-day availability except during peak summer months. <strong>WHAT WE DO:</strong> We release the tension safely, remove old springs, install new high-cycle springs (25,000+ cycles - last 2-3x longer than standard), wind to proper tension, test balance, lubricate, and verify safety. <strong>WARRANTY:</strong> 1-year labor warranty. Spring manufacturers warranty varies (1-5 years depending on quality tier).