You don't have to touch anything to check your springs. Everything below can be done from a safe distance, standing out of the door's path.
First, which springs do you have?
- Torsion springs are mounted on a metal bar above the door opening, usually one or two.
- Extension springs run alongside the horizontal tracks on each side of the door, above your head when the door is closed. Angi's Raleigh cost guide notes these are common in Raleigh homes.
7 signs of a broken spring
1. You heard a loud bang
A spring letting go releases a lot of energy at once. Many homeowners describe a sound like a gunshot or something heavy falling, often when nobody was using the door.
2. There's a gap in the torsion spring
Look at the spring above the door. A broken torsion spring usually shows a clear separation, a couple of inches of gap where the coil snapped.
3. An extension spring is stretched, snapped, or hanging
On extension systems, a broken spring may hang loose, look stretched out compared to the other side, or be held only by its safety cable.
4. The opener runs, but the door barely moves
The opener hums, strains, and lifts the door a few inches before stopping or reversing. Openers aren't built to lift the door's full weight.
5. The door feels extremely heavy
If the opener was disconnected before the break, you may notice the door won't budge. Don't keep trying. That weight is exactly why lifting it is dangerous.
6. The door is crooked or jerky
On a two-spring door, one side may rise faster than the other, or the door may jerk and shudder as it moves.
7. Cables are loose or dangling
When a spring breaks, the lift cables can go slack and come off their drums. You may see a cable hanging near a bottom corner.
Angi's spring guide lists similar warning signs, including a door that doesn't hang straight, lowers faster than usual, won't stay open, or has visible gaps in the springs.
Signs a spring may be about to fail
- Rust on the springs, especially in damp garages
- Visible stretching or gaps in the coil
- A door that's gotten noisier or slower
- Springs that are many years old. Angi estimates torsion springs last about 8–15 years and extension springs about 7–12, depending on use.
What to do if you see these signs
- Stop using the door and unplug the opener, if you can reach the plug safely.
- Don't lift the door by hand, and don't pull the emergency release if the door is open.
- Keep people, pets, and cars clear.
- Take a photo from a safe distance and request help.
Read next: can you open a garage door with a broken spring? · broken spring repair
It might not be the spring
If the springs look intact, the problem could be the opener, the safety sensors, a cable, or the track. Walk through why won't my garage door open?
Frequently asked questions
Can a garage door still work with a broken spring?
Sometimes it seems to. On a door with two springs, the opener may still move it slowly or unevenly. It's working far harder than it should and the door is unbalanced, so stop using it until the spring is replaced.
What does a broken spring sound like?
Usually a single, very loud bang from the garage, often when nobody is using the door. People commonly compare it to a gunshot or something heavy falling.