Broken Garage Door Springs: How to Spot the Problem and Get It Repaired
A broken garage door spring can leave your door stuck, difficult to open or unsafe to use. Common warning signs include a loud snapping noise, uneven movement and visible damage to the spring. If you think a spring has broken, it’s important to stop using the door and arrange a professional inspection. In this guide, we explain how to recognise the signs of spring failure, what causes it and what to expect when getting your garage door repaired.
How to Tell If Your Garage Door Spring Has Broken
Garage door springs play an important role in helping your door open and close smoothly. They help balance the weight of the door, making it easier to lift, whether you have a manual or electric garage door.
When a spring breaks, your garage door can suddenly become much heavier and harder to operate.
Here are some of the most common warning signs:
- A sudden loud bang: Garage door springs are under considerable tension. When one snaps, it can make a loud cracking or banging noise, even when the door isn’t being used.
- Your garage door won’t open properly: A broken spring can prevent the door from opening fully. If you have an electric garage door, the motor may run but struggle to lift it.
- Uneven movement: Your garage door might appear crooked, move unevenly or get stuck partway through opening.
- Visible damage to the spring: Depending on your garage door, you might notice a gap in the spring, a broken coil or a component hanging out of position.
- Unexpected movement: The door may drop suddenly or fail to remain in its normal position.
Of course, these symptoms don’t always mean the spring itself has broken. Problems with lifting cables, rollers, tracks or electric motors can cause similar issues.
We provide garage door repairs for a wide range of faults, including broken springs, damaged cables and problems with lifting mechanisms.
If you notice any of these warning signs, don’t try to operate the door to test whether the spring has broken.
What Should You Do If a Garage Door Spring Breaks?
If you think your garage door spring has snapped, the safest thing to do is stop using the door and arrange for a professional to inspect it.
Garage door springs help balance the weight of the door. When one fails, the door can become unstable, and trying to move it could cause further damage or injury.
Until the problem has been checked:
- Don’t force the garage door open or closed.
- Avoid repeatedly using an electric opener if the door isn’t moving properly.
- Never attempt to adjust, disconnect or replace the spring yourself.
- Keep children and pets away from the affected door.
- If the door is stuck open or partially raised, keep clear and seek professional advice.
Replacing a broken garage door spring isn’t a DIY job. Springs store considerable mechanical energy, and other parts of the mechanism may still be under tension even after one has snapped.
Working on these components requires specialist tools, experience and a good understanding of the door’s mechanism.
Why Do Garage Door Springs Break?
Garage door springs work hard every time you open and close your garage door. Over the years, this repeated movement can cause wear and eventually lead to a broken spring.
There are several reasons why this can happen.
Everyday Wear and Age
Every time your garage door opens or closes, the spring is put under strain. After years of regular use, the metal can gradually weaken.
How quickly a spring wears out depends on its design, the weight of the garage door and how often it’s used.
Moisture and Corrosion
Garages can be damp, particularly during the colder months. Over time, moisture can cause rust to develop on springs and other metal components.
A small amount of surface rust doesn’t necessarily mean a spring is about to break, but significant corrosion is worth having checked.
Problems With Other Garage Door Components
Sometimes, a broken spring can be linked to problems elsewhere in the door’s lifting mechanism.
For example, an incorrectly balanced door, worn components or springs that aren’t suitable for the door can place additional strain on the system.
This is why it’s important to check the surrounding components when replacing a spring, rather than simply fitting a new one.
Torsion vs Extension Garage Door Springs
Not every garage door uses the same type of spring. The system fitted to your door depends on its design, weight and operating mechanism.
Two common types are torsion springs and extension springs.
Torsion Springs
Torsion springs work by twisting to store and release energy, helping to balance the weight of the garage door.
These springs are used in various garage door systems, with their position and arrangement depending on the manufacturer and design.
Extension Springs
Extension springs, also known as tension springs, stretch to store energy and contract to release it as the door moves.
The arrangement of these springs varies depending on the door’s lifting mechanism.
Why Does Your Garage Door Type Matter?
We supply and repair several different types of garage doors, including traditional up-and-over doors and sectional models.
For example, up-and-over garage doors can use canopy or retractable mechanisms, with different spring arrangements depending on the make and model.
Similarly, sectional garage doors may use different counterbalance systems depending on their design.
Older garage doors can also have spring assemblies that aren’t used on newer models, making it important to identify the original mechanism before sourcing replacement parts.
Two springs might look similar, but that doesn’t mean they’re interchangeable. The replacement needs to be suitable for the door’s weight and lifting system.
You don’t need to know which spring your door uses before contacting us. We can help establish what type of mechanism you have and which parts may be needed.
What Happens During a Professional Garage Door Spring Repair?
If your garage door spring has broken, the first step is finding out exactly which spring and mechanism your door uses.
This is particularly important for older doors, where replacement parts may differ from those fitted to newer models.
Here’s what a professional repair typically involves.
1. Identifying the Door and Spring Mechanism
The garage door manufacturer, model and operating system help establish which replacement components are suitable.
We supply garage door spare parts, including springs, cables, rollers and other mechanical components. If the correct part isn’t readily available, we can also help source suitable replacements.
2. Checking for Other Damage
A broken spring isn’t always the only issue.
Lifting cables, rollers, brackets and tracks may also need attention, especially if the door has become stuck or moved unevenly.
Checking these components helps establish whether replacing the spring will resolve the problem or whether any additional repairs are needed.
3. Replacing the Spring and Testing the Door
Once the correct replacement parts are available, a professional engineer can replace the damaged spring using suitable equipment and procedures.
The door should then be checked to make sure it is balanced, moves smoothly and operates safely, including the electric opener if one is fitted.
How Long Does a Garage Door Spring Repair Take?
How quickly a broken garage door spring can be repaired depends on the type of door, the spring mechanism and whether the correct replacement parts are available.
Straightforward spring replacements may be completed during a single repair visit when suitable parts are available.
However, older or less common garage door systems sometimes require specialist components to be sourced first. Any additional damage to cables or other parts can also affect how long the repair takes.
When you contact us, providing the door manufacturer, type and photographs can help us understand the problem and advise on the next steps.
Can You Replace a Broken Spring Without Replacing the Garage Door?
The good news is that a broken spring doesn’t automatically mean you need a completely new garage door.
In many cases, replacing the damaged spring may be enough to get the door working properly again, provided the frame, panels, tracks and other components are still in suitable condition.
However, there are times when a more extensive repair or replacement may be worth considering.
For example:
- Several mechanical components are worn or damaged.
- The garage door has significant rust or structural damage.
- Suitable replacement parts are difficult to obtain.
- The door has developed recurring problems that affect safe operation.
As well as repairing existing garage doors, we also supply and install replacement doors. This means we can help you understand whether repairing your current door or considering a replacement is the more practical option.
Can Regular Servicing Help Prevent Spring Problems?
Garage door springs naturally wear over time, but regular servicing can help identify potential problems before they become more serious.
A professional service provides an opportunity to check springs, lifting cables, rollers and other moving components for signs of wear or damage.
We offer one-off garage door servicing as well as our Service Passport Scheme, which provides ongoing aftercare for eligible customers.
The scheme includes annual servicing reminders, reduced-price servicing and replacement of covered mechanical components, including springs, subject to the scheme’s terms and annual servicing requirements.
You can find out more about our garage door servicing and Service Passport Scheme.
While regular servicing can’t guarantee a spring will never break, it can help keep your garage door in good working condition and identify developing faults.
Get a Quote for Broken Garage Door Spring Repairs
If your garage door has stopped working or you think a spring has snapped, we’re here to help.
We provide garage door repairs across Sussex, Surrey and Kent, working with a range of manual and electric garage door systems.
You don’t need to identify the exact problem before getting in touch. However, a few details can help us understand what’s happened:
- Garage door type: Whether you have an up-and-over, sectional or another type of door.
- Manufacturer: The make of your garage door, if you know it.
- Operating system: Whether your door is manual or electric, including the motor manufacturer where relevant.
- Description of the problem: What happened when the fault appeared, including any unusual noises or visible damage.
- Photographs: Pictures of the door and any visible damage, as long as they can be taken safely without touching or operating the mechanism.
Our dedicated repair enquiry form allows you to share these details and upload supporting photographs.
Not sure what’s wrong with your garage door? Simply tell us what’s happened and provide any information you can safely gather. We can help you work out the next steps.
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