Torsion springs do all the heavy lifting on your garage door — and they are the part most likely to fail. Here are the warning signs.
That firecracker-like noise is almost always a torsion spring snapping. Look for a visible 2-inch gap in the coil above the door.
Modern openers detect the sudden weight increase and stop. This is a safety feature, not an opener failure.
With the opener disconnected, a balanced door should lift with about 10 lbs of effort and stay put halfway. If it slams down, the spring is broken or badly out of adjustment.
Often a cable came off the drum as the spring failed — see cable & off-track repair.
No. Running an opener against a broken spring destroys the gears and can drop the door. Use the emergency release and call for garage door spring replacement.
Most single-spring replacements land in the $180–$350 range, and double-spring jobs in the $260–$500 range depending on door size and spring cycle rating. We always replace springs in pairs. Get a firm quote with a free on-site estimate or find your city on our locations page.
We offer same day garage door repair, 24 hour emergency service and new garage door installation. Find your city on the locations page or call (877) 230-8949.