What to do if Your Garage Door Springs Break

While the lifespan of a garage door depends largely on the original quality of construction, the average length of useful life you’ll get out of one ranges from 15-30 years. This doesn’t mean, however, that you’ll never experience problems during that time. There are all sorts of problems that can arise with a garage door and for a variety of reasons.

One of the more serious problems that can occur is when a garage door spring breaks. When this happens, it’s a major inconvenience to you as a homeowner, because you won’t be able to open the garage door at all. It’s important to know what to do in this case because there are safety considerations at play. In this article, we outline the steps you should take if you experience a broken garage door spring. Before we get into that, please know that the experts at Garage Doors of Indianapolis (GDI) are always ready to help. In fact, we’ve made a commitment to homeowners in crisis with this promise:

Call us this morning for service today!
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317-860-0806

What Are Garage Door Springs and Why Do They Break?

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think much about your garage door except when something goes wrong, and suddenly it doesn’t work the way it should. This will inevitably happen at the most inconvenient time, such as in the morning when it’s time to go to work. A garage door that won’t open can throw a major hitch in your day, which is always frustrating.

The unsung hero of a well-functioning garage door is the spring mechanism, which is lifting a garage door that can range in weight from 250-400 pounds! The spring, in spite of bearing an immense amount of weight, makes your garage door easy to open and close. There are two different categories of springs used with garage doors:

Torsion Springs are mounted on a torsion tube above the door, winding and unwinding when the door is opened and closed. They serve as a counterbalance to the weight of the door, making operation smoother and easier. When made from high-quality steel, they can last for many years when properly installed, adjusted, and maintained.

Extension Springs are mounted on the horizontal tracks found on either side of the door, extending and stretching to counterbalance the weight of the door, making operation easier. Extension springs are mostly used on lighter-weight doors and are generally more affordable than torsion springs, but are also more likely to need replacing more frequently than high-quality torsion springs.

The most common causes of spring breakage include the following:

• Wear and tear from frequent use.
• Lack of maintenance, especially lubrication.
• Rust or corrosion, which weakens the springs.
• Temperature changes that cause metal fatigue.

If you think you have a broken spring, give GDI a call. We are your locally owned and operated experts for fast, effective residential garage door repairs: 317-860-0806.

Recognizing the Signs of a Broken Garage Door Spring

When your garage door won’t open, it might not be immediately apparent if the malfunction is because of a broken spring or some other issue (such as your remote opener needing batteries). Here are some telltale signs you’ve got a broken garage door spring:

• The door may move unevenly or only open halfway.
• You may notice loose or hanging cables.
• Springs might appear visibly damaged, such as gaps or elongation.
• The door may suddenly close faster than normal.
• A loud snapping noise at the time of breakage (and hopefully, you’re well out of the way if this happens).

Whatever the cause of breakage might be, don’t do anything with it; tinkering with springs under high tension is dangerous business (see below).

Why DIY Garage Door Spring Repairs are Dangerous and Ineffective

Should you attempt a DIY repair of a broken garage door spring? The short answer is NO. Why? These springs are powerful and are under immense pressure and high tension. If mishandled, serious injury or even death could result. It’s simply never worth the risk! Even if you manage to remove the broken spring, installing a new one carries all the same risks and, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up causing additional problems to the cables, tracks, or the opener system.

You’d also have a ton of decision points to consider in terms of selecting which spring(s) to purchase. There are scores of sizes, weights, and factors that go into selecting the right spring of the right quality for optimal effectiveness with your particular garage door. In short, there is too much risk for further garage door damage and/or personal injury with DIY garage door spring repair. (You can read more about this in our blog post: Is It Safe for Me to Repair My Own Garage Door Spring?)

How to Open a Garage Door with a Broken Spring (only if necessary)

Again, the primary concern here is safety first! We also understand, however, that you may desperately need to get that garage door open. Please use extreme caution and only attempt to open the door manually if absolutely necessary. Here are some steps you can take to try to get the door open:

• Disengage the opener by pulling the manual release cord.
• Ensure the door is stable and have another adult help lift it evenly.
• Do not attempt this alone or with a heavy door!

We must emphasize that manually opening the door is only a temporary solution, and repairs should follow immediately. Call GDI at 317-860-0806 quick, reliable, professional garage door spring repair services.

Benefits of Professional Garage Door Spring Repairs

As previously mentioned, one main reason to enlist the help of garage door professionals to repair a broken spring is for personal safety. Another good reason, however, is the speed and convenience of getting the situation handled quickly and efficiently. That can only happen if you work with people who have the expertise and experience in safely dealing with broken garage door spring repairs.

When investing in repairs, ask the technican about a longer-life torsion spring, which is an upgrade that may be worth the expense. Most garage door torsion springs are made to last at least 10,000 to 15,000 cycles, which is considered the minimum by industry standards. With an upgrade, you could increase the life of your garage door springs to 100,000+ cycles!

Preventing Future Spring Breaks: Maintenance Tips

If you’ve ever experienced the hassles and headaches that come with a broken garage door spring, the good news is that with proper care and maintenance, you’ll be far less likely to ever experience it again. Keep in mind the following tips:

• Regular maintenance: Wear and rust are two of the main reasons garage door springs fail. While there’s not a lot you can do about wear, besides not using the garage door, you can minimize rust by applying a silicone-based lubricant to the spring coils on a quarterly basis.
• Early Detection: Stay ahead of trouble by making sure to have your garage door annually inspected by a professional, especially if you frequently use the opener.
• Reduce Usage: Minimize unnecessary garage door operation.

Get all the regular residential garage door inspection and maintenance services you need from GDI!

Garage Doors of Indianapolis: Your Local Team of Trusted Experts

For 30+ years, GDI has been a locally-owned and -operated business serving the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area. We’re deeply committed to top-notch customer care, including transparent pricing to fit your budget, same-day service when needed, emergency services, and highly professional treatment from technicians on every visit. Whatever your garage-related needs may be, GDI is ready to help! Reach out to us through our contact page or give us a call directly at 317-860-0806.