Signs Your Garage Door Spring Needs Replacement
Replace your garage door spring if you hear a loud bang from the garage, the door suddenly feels very heavy or won’t open, you see a visible gap or separation in the coil, or the door rises jerkily and won’t stay put halfway. A broken spring leaves the door hundreds of pounds of dead weight — don’t run the opener; call a technician.
- A loud bang then a dead door is the classic broken-spring sign.
- A visible gap or separation in the overhead coil means it has failed.
- A door that won’t stay halfway when lifted by hand is out of balance.
- Springs are rated by cycles — most last ~7–10 years of normal use.
- Never operate the door or DIY the spring — it’s under extreme tension.
The unmistakable signs
The most obvious is a loud bang — like a firecracker — from the garage, after which the door won’t open or the opener strains and gives up. Look at the torsion spring above the door: a clean gap or separated coil confirms it.
Subtler signs come first: the door feels heavier, rises unevenly, or won’t hold position when you lift it by hand with the opener disconnected.
Why you shouldn’t wait
A weak or partially broken spring forces the opener to do work it wasn’t built for, burning out the motor and gears. And once a spring lets go fully, the door becomes unsafe to operate. Catching it early is cheaper than replacing an opener too.
What we do
We replace springs in matched pairs with high-cycle springs, re-balance the door, and safety-test the auto-reverse — same-day across London and the surrounding 50 km.
Don’t run the door on a failing spring. We carry high-cycle springs on every truck — from $229, with a 1-year warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use my garage door with a broken spring?
No. With a broken spring the door is hundreds of pounds of unsupported weight that can fall, and running the opener will damage it. Leave the door down and call a technician.
How long do garage door springs last?
Most standard springs are rated around 10,000 cycles — roughly 7–10 years of normal use. High-cycle springs last about twice as long.
How do I know which spring I need?
Spring sizing depends on the door’s weight and height. A technician measures it precisely — the wrong spring leaves the door unbalanced and wears the opener.
Related guides
Common Garage Door Spring Problems Explained
Rust, metal fatigue, wrong-size springs, and bad balance — the spring problems we see most, and what actually fixes each one.
Types of Garage Door Springs: A Comprehensive Guide
Torsion vs extension springs — how each works, how long they last, which is safer, and how to tell which type is on your door.