Open Sesame Garages · Oklahoma City
What are the signs a garage door spring is about to break?
The clearest signs of a failing garage door spring are a loud bang from the garage, the door suddenly feeling much heavier to lift by hand, a visible gap in the coil above the door, and the door opening unevenly or only a few inches before stopping.
Warning signs before a full break
- The door moves in a jerky, uneven motion instead of smoothly.
- The opener strains, makes a grinding or humming noise, but the door barely moves.
- One side of the door appears to hang lower than the other.
- Visible rust or stretching on the coils.
If the spring has already snapped
A snapped spring is usually accompanied by a loud bang, often mistaken for a gunshot or a car backfiring. After that, the door will be very heavy or impossible to lift safely by hand.
Do not attempt to open the door with the opener once a spring has broken. The opener is not designed to lift the full weight of the door and can be damaged, or the door can fall.
Related questions
Can I still use my garage door if a spring is broken?
No. Treat the door as inoperable until the spring is replaced. Leave the door in whatever position it is in and call for repair rather than forcing it open or closed.
Need this fixed, not just explained?
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