Broken garage door spring: what happened and what to do now
Updated October 2026
If you heard a loud bang from the garage and now the door won't open, a broken spring is the most likely reason. Springs do the heavy lifting on a garage door. When one breaks, the door suddenly weighs as much as it really does, which is often well over a hundred pounds.
Signs your spring is broken
- A loud bang, like a firecracker, from inside the garage
- A visible gap in a coiled spring above the door
- The opener strains, hums or lifts the door only a few inches
- The door looks crooked or one side rises faster than the other
- Loose cables hanging near the bottom corners
- The door is very heavy when you try to lift it by hand
The two kinds of springs
Torsion springs sit on a bar above the door. They're the most common on newer homes. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side and stretch as the door closes. Both store a lot of energy, and both should be handled by a trained technician.
What to do right now
- Stop using the opener. Running it with a broken spring can damage the opener and pull the door off track.
- Don't try to lift the door by hand, and don't pull the emergency release if the door is open. The door could slam down.
- Keep kids and pets out of the garage.
- If the door is stuck open, lock the door between the garage and the house and move anything valuable inside.
- Call a garage door company. If the door is closed and secure, a regular appointment is usually fine. If it's open or you need your car, ask for emergency service.
Why this isn't a DIY job
Winding or unwinding a torsion spring takes special bars and training. A slip can cause broken bones or worse. Even handy homeowners are better off leaving this one to a pro.
What the repair usually involves
Most technicians recommend replacing both springs at once on a two-spring door, since they wear at the same rate. They'll usually check the cables, rollers and bearings while they're there, and balance the door so the opener isn't working too hard. Ask for the price of the springs and labor before work starts, and ask about any after-hours fee.
Making the next spring last
- Ask about higher-cycle springs if you use the door many times a day.
- Have the door balanced and serviced every year or two.
- A light coat of garage door lubricant on the springs can reduce wear and noise.
Need help now? Find a garage door company near you that advertises emergency service, or see our guide on what emergency repair costs.