A broken garage door spring is one of the most common calls we get – and one of the most misunderstood. Here’s what’s actually going on, and why this is a repair best left to a professional.
What Garage Door Springs Actually Do
Torsion and extension springs counterbalance the weight of your door, which can easily be 150-400 lbs. When a spring breaks, the opener is suddenly trying to lift the full weight of the door on its own – which is hard on the motor and can even cause it to fail.
How to Tell a Spring Has Broken
The most obvious sign is a loud bang, often mistaken for a gunshot or a car backfiring. Afterward, the door may feel extremely heavy to lift by hand, or it won’t open more than a few inches with the opener.
Why This Isn’t a DIY Repair
Garage door springs are wound under extreme tension. Without the right tools and training, attempting to replace one yourself is genuinely dangerous – this is one of the top causes of garage door related injuries.
Torsion vs. Extension Springs
Torsion springs sit above the door on a metal shaft and are more common on newer installations. Extension springs run along the upper tracks on either side. Both wear out over time, typically after 7-12 years or 10,000+ open-close cycles.
Not sure what’s wrong with your door? The team at Garage Repair Master has been fixing garage doors across Houston since 2016. Request a service appointment online or call us at (346) 434-8345 and we’ll usually have someone out within the hour.
