A broken spring is the number one reason a garage door stops working. The spring does the heavy lifting, so when it goes, the whole door feels dead. Here is how to know that a spring is the culprit — and why you should not force the door once you spot the signs. At Tek Garage Door Repair, we replace springs safely every day.
1. You heard a loud bang
Many homeowners describe a sound like a firecracker or a gunshot from the garage. That sharp bang is the spring snapping under tension. If you heard it and the door will not open the next morning, a broken spring is the likely cause.
2. The door will not open — or only lifts a few inches
With a healthy spring, the door glides up. With a broken one, the opener strains, the door barely moves, or it stops a few inches off the floor. Do not keep pressing the button — you can burn out the opener motor.
3. There is a visible gap in the spring
Look at the spring above the door. A torsion spring is a tight coil. If you see a two-inch gap where the coil separated, it is broken. Look, but do not touch. Springs hold enough force to injure you badly.
4. The door feels impossibly heavy
Pull the release cord and try to lift the door by hand. A balanced door rises with light effort. If it feels like dead weight and slams back down, the spring is not carrying the load anymore.
5. The door closes too fast
A door that drops fast or crooked has lost spring support. That is dangerous — keep kids, pets, and cars clear until it is fixed.
Why you should not DIY a spring
A torsion spring stores a huge amount of energy. Trying to unwind or replace one without the right bars can cause serious injury. This is the repair we most often warn homeowners away from. For the full picture, see our broken spring repair page and our guide to spring repair costs.
What to do next
Stop using the door and call a pro. Our techs carry the right springs and tools on the truck, so most spring jobs are done the same day. Every spring we install is backed by a lifetime parts warranty and a one-year labor warranty.
Spotting one of these signs? Do not force it. Call Tek Garage Door Repair at (833) 341-0175 and we will get your door lifting smoothly again — safely. We serve Chicopee and all of Western MA, open 7 AM to 10 PM daily. Call (833) 341-0175 today.