Broken Garage Door Spring: What to Do Right Now

If your garage door spring has broken, stop using the door, do not run the opener, and call a technician. The spring is what carries the weight of the door, so without it the door becomes very heavy and unpredictable. Nothing about the situation is an emergency for you personally as long as you keep your hands and the opener away from the door, but the repair itself is a job for a trained person with the right tools.

How do I know the spring has actually broken?

The classic sign is a loud bang from the garage, like a firecracker or a dropped tool, followed by a door that will not lift. On a torsion spring, the coil above the door will show a visible gap where it snapped. On extension springs, which run along the sides of the door, you will see a spring hanging loose or a cable dangling. Other signs include a door that rises a few inches and stops, an opener that strains and hums, or a door that feels extremely heavy when lifted by hand.

What should I do in the first five minutes?

Stop, keep clear and leave the door where it is. Then work through this short list:

• Do not press the remote or wall button again. The opener is built to guide a balanced door, not to lift its full weight.

• Keep people, pets and vehicles away from the door while it is open or partly open.

• Do not touch the spring, the cables or the brackets at either end of the shaft. They can be under serious tension.

• Take a photo of the door from inside and outside, plus a close-up of the spring if you can do it safely from a distance.

Can I still use the opener or lift the door by hand?

No, avoid both. A residential garage door commonly weighs well over a hundred pounds, and the spring exists to counterbalance that weight. Running the opener against a dead spring can strip its gears or damage the door, and lifting by hand is an easy way to hurt your back or lose control of the door. If your car is stuck inside, see our guide on what to do in an emergency, and call us before attempting anything. Our page on emergency garage door repair explains what counts as urgent.

Is it safe to pull the emergency release cord?

Only if the door is fully closed, and even then you rarely need to. Pulling the red cord disconnects the door from the opener. If the door is up or partly open with a broken spring, it can drop fast once released. Leave the cord alone unless the door is shut and you simply need to move it by hand with a second person helping.

Why is a broken spring not a DIY repair?

Because the parts that look harmless store a lot of energy. Torsion springs are wound with special winding bars, and the wrong tool or a slip can send a bar flying. Replacement springs also have to match the weight and height of your particular door. A spring that is too weak leaves the door heavy; one that is too strong makes it fly up. Our article on spring repair in Richmond Hill goes deeper on the safety side.

What does a proper spring replacement involve?

A good technician starts by securing the door, then measures the door's weight and the old spring's wire size, length and inside diameter. The new spring is fitted and wound to the correct tension, the cables and drums are inspected, and the door is balanced by hand so it stays put at waist height. Rollers, hinges and the bottom bracket are checked at the same time, because a breakage often exposes other wear. We replace springs in pairs on two-spring doors, since the second one is the same age and usually close behind.

Why did my spring break?

Springs are rated for a set number of open-and-close cycles, and every trip up and down uses a little of that life. A busy household that uses the garage as the main entrance wears them out sooner. Rust, lack of lubrication and cold snaps make it worse. If you also see frayed wires, read about a snapped or frayed cable, which often goes hand in hand with a failed spring.

Can I prevent another broken spring?

You can slow it down. Test the balance once a year by disconnecting the opener with the door closed and lifting it by hand; a balanced door stays about halfway up. Lubricate the spring and moving parts with a proper garage door lubricant, not a thick grease, and have the door looked at if it begins to feel heavier than before. Higher-cycle springs are also an option for busy households.

Who do I call for a broken spring in the GTA?

Modern Empire Doors, 138 Yorkland St, Richmond Hill, 647-323-1826. We answer 24/7 and have served the GTA since 2018, with 4.9 stars on Google. Send us a photo of the door from inside and outside, plus any close-up of the spring you can take safely, and we can tell you what we expect to bring before we arrive.