Broken Garage Door Springs: Identify – Replace - Prolong

Our team recently received an e-mail from a customer asking a very common question:

"How do I know if my garage door spring is broken? My garage door opener seems to be operating correctly, but the door won't go up. My wife says it is the spring, but I am not convinced. Is she right?"

The short answer is: Probably.

If you find that your garage door will not open completely and only goes up a few inches, your opener is likely not the problem and a broken spring could be the culprit. Read on to learn how springs function, the best methods to replace them, and the preventative measures you can take to prolong the lifespan of this crucial garage door component. With our decades of experience in the industry, you can trust us to ease your spring related tension while keeping the tension in your spring.

How Garage Door Springs Work

To understand why springs break, we first need to review how a spring works on a garage door. Your door is not part of your garage door opener system; it is a separate entity that can be thought of as similar to a wall in your house - one that weighs between 200 and 500 pounds.

To lift this wall, a spring or springs need to be attached above the door. These springs counterbalance the wall, enabling you to exert force to easily lift and lower the door. Without springs attached to a garage door, the door would be at its full weight and incredibly difficult to lift. When a spring breaks, the garage door becomes too heavy for the opener to lift it, which is a major inconvenience if you happen to have your car in a garage and need to leave for work.

How to Determine if a Spring is Broken?

To check if a garage door spring has broken, check the wall above your door where the spring or springs are attached to a torsion bar that runs along the door’s width. If a spring is broken, there will be a two-inch gap between the coils somewhere along the spring.

Repairing a Garage Door Spring

Repairing garage door springs is dangerous and should ALWAYS be done by a professional. With multiple people being hospitalized from garage-door related injuries per year, paying a little extra for an installer now can prevent serious injury and hospital bills later. If you suspect your garage door spring is broken, contact a local garage door service technician, as they often possess the equipment and experience to install replacement garage door springs. If your door has two springs that are similar ages, it is likely that the second spring will fail before long and should be replaced to save you a service call further down the line. For a more detailed article on pricing and finding the right replacement size, read here!

Why Does a Garage Door Spring Break?

Garage door springs can fail for a number of reasons, but you can take preventative measures to stop many of them! Some common issues are as follows:

• Wear and Tear – Most springs are rated for 10,000 cycles, which adds up fast when you use your door daily.
• Rust – When rust develops, it weakens and corrodes the springs and adds friction that can lead to failure. Rust can form when a spring is exposed to moisture, but you can minimize this risk by installing weather seals on the top and sides of your door to block out rainwater and snow from contacting the spring. The barrier also keeps your garage insulated to prevent the springs from becoming stressed during drastic temperature changes, which can also cause them to fail.

• Door Jams – Overtime dirt and other debris can gather in your door’s track and cause your rollers to jam. This causes stress on springs and can wear them out faster and shorten their lifespan. Checking the state of your jams seasonally and cleaning when needed can help negate this issue.

• Lack of Maintenance – Not maintaining your garage door opener system can lead to malfunctions like broken springs. Regardless of how often a door is operated, you should do basic upkeep like lubricating the spring(s) two to three times a year and testing the door’s balance once per season. If you need help finding the right lubricant, click here to learn more!

Do You Have Other Spring Questions?

Please ask! Our in-house experts can help you with all of your door spring questions. Get in touch with our support crew:

• Call: 800-783-6112

• Email: support@northshorecommercialdoor.com