Short answer
If your garage door spring broke, do not lift the door or use the opener. The spring held most of its weight, so the door can drop. Keep kids and pets away and do not stand under it. Leave the car inside unless the door is already open and stays put. Call a garage door company: springs are under heavy tension and need a trained technician.
Safety first
A broken spring leaves the full weight of the door on whoever lifts it, and the other spring or the cables can snap. Do not pull the emergency release cord while the door is open: without the spring it can fall all at once.
Broken garage door spring: what to do and what not to touch
1A loud bang, and the door won’t open
The bang is the spring snapping. Look up: a gap in the coiled spring above the door means it broke.
Read all the steps
- A loud bang, and the door won’t open. The bang is the spring snapping. Look up: a gap in the coiled spring above the door means it broke.
- Don’t lift it or use the opener. Without the spring, the door is dead weight, often well over 100 pounds. Lifting it or pressing the button can drop it or wreck the opener.
- Keep kids and pets away from the door. Nobody stands or walks under it, even if it looks stuck in place. The other spring or a cable can still give way.
- Car inside? Leave it there. Only drive out if the door is already fully open and does not move. If it is closed, get a ride for now.
- Leave the spring to a technician. Springs are wound under heavy tension and seriously hurt people who try to fix them. Call and say "broken spring": many fix it the same day.
- Don’t touch it: call a garage door company Especially if: the door is stuck open and will not close (a security risk).
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Signs the spring broke
- A loud bang from the garage, like a gunshot, often with nobody near the door.
- A visible gap in the coiled spring on the bar above the door (torsion spring), or a stretched spring along the side tracks (extension spring).
- The opener runs but the door lifts a few inches and stops, or the door feels extremely heavy.
- Loose or hanging cables on the sides of the door.
While you wait for the technician
- Unplug the opener if you can reach the plug without climbing a tall ladder, so nobody presses the button.
- Take a photo of the spring and the label on the door or opener: it helps the technician bring the right parts.
- When you call, say "broken spring": many technicians carry springs on the truck and fix it the same day.
What to ask before they start
- A written price with parts and labor before the work begins. A very low phone price that grows once the technician is at your door is a common complaint.
- If the door has two springs, whether they recommend replacing both (they usually wear out together).
- Whether the price includes checking and adjusting the cables, rollers and balance of the door.
- What warranty comes with the spring and the labor.
When to call a garage door technician
- The door is stuck open and will not close (a security risk).
- Your car is stuck inside and you need it today.
- The door came off its track or is hanging crooked.
- Any broken spring or loose cable: this is not a do-it-yourself repair.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open the garage door with a broken spring?
It is not safe. The door can weigh well over a hundred pounds without the spring helping, and the other spring or cables can fail. Use another ride and call a technician.
What does it sound like when a garage door spring breaks?
Like a gunshot or a firecracker inside the garage, often when nobody is near the door. Afterward you may see a gap in the coiled spring above the door.
Can I drive my car out with a broken garage door spring?
Only if the door is already fully open and stays in place on its own. Do not lift a closed door to get the car out: leave it and get a ride until the technician comes.
Can I replace a garage door spring myself?
No. Torsion springs are wound under very high tension and cause serious injuries when handled without the right tools and training. Leave it to a technician.
Should both springs be replaced?
If your door has two springs, technicians usually recommend replacing both: they were installed together and the other one is close to the end of its life.
Is a broken garage door spring an emergency?
It is urgent when the door is stuck open (security) or your car is trapped inside. Use the "24/7 emergencies" filter to find technicians who answer now.