How to identify a broken garage door spring (with photos)

Most homeowners discover a broken torsion spring at the worst possible moment — pressing the opener button at 7 a.m. before the school run. Here's how to confirm it's a spring, and why you should not try to "just lift it."

Sign 1: A 2-4 inch gap in the spring coil

Look at the long horizontal coil mounted above the door (the torsion spring on the header bar). A working spring is a continuous tight coil. A broken spring shows an obvious gap of 2-4 inches where the wire snapped.

Sign 2: A loud "bang" you heard last night

When a torsion spring fails, the stored energy releases violently. The sound is unmistakable — many homeowners think they heard a gunshot or someone breaking in.

Sign 3: The opener strains and reverses immediately

Modern openers have force-limit sensors. When the spring is gone, the motor can't lift the dead weight, the force limit trips, and the door reverses or stops at 6 inches.

Sign 4: The door is suddenly very heavy by hand

Disconnect the opener. A balanced door weighs about 8-12 lbs to lift. A door with a broken spring weighs 250-400 lbs. You'll know immediately.

Sign 5: One side of the door drops faster than the other

If only one of two springs broke, the unbalanced lift becomes obvious as the door operates. Both springs need replacement together.

Why you should not lift it manually

The full weight of the door is now hanging from the lift cables. If a cable is also damaged (very common when a spring fails), the door can come down catastrophically. Call a professional. We can be there in under an hour.

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