Broken garage
door spring?
Start here.

What to do right now

1. Stop operating the door. Don’t press the wall control or remote again, and don’t try to force the door open or closed.
2. Keep the area clear. Stay away from the door, especially if it is raised, crooked, stuck or looks unstable. Keep children and pets away too.
3. Leave the door where it is. Don’t pull the emergency release on a raised, partially open or damaged door: an unsupported door can fall.
4. Contact a trained garage door technician. Describe what happened and whether the door is open, closed or partly open. Use another safe exit if available.

If someone is trapped or seriously injured, call 911. Do not place yourself beneath an unstable door.

Signs that a spring may have failed

A spring helps counterbalance the weight of the garage door. When one fails, the door may become difficult or unsafe to move. Signs can include:

• A loud bang from the garage when the spring breaks.
• A visible separation in a torsion spring above the door, or a damaged extension spring along the overhead tracks.
• A door that looks uneven, opens only a little or stops unexpectedly.
• A loose or hanging cable, or a door that seems unusually heavy.

These signs don’t confirm the cause. Observe from a safe distance and let a trained technician diagnose the system.

What not to do

Do not attempt to remove, repair, wind or adjust the springs. Do not loosen the cables, bottom brackets, fasteners or other parts connected to the spring system. They may still be under dangerous tension, even if a spring looks broken.

Don’t use the opener to repeatedly try to move the door, and don’t try to lift an unbalanced or damaged door by hand. If the door is open or partly open, stay out from beneath it and do not pull the release handle. A technician can determine how to secure the door safely.

What to tell a technician

It’s helpful to share whether the door is open, closed or partly open; whether it looks crooked; and what you heard or saw. If you can see the make and model from a safe place, include those details. Don’t approach or touch the hardware just to find them.

Ask what the assessment and proposed work will involve, and discuss the condition of the other spring and related components. The appropriate repair depends on the door and its counterbalance system.

Looking ahead

Springs wear with use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your door and opener, and arrange a professional inspection when you notice wear or changes in operation. Visually checking from a safe distance is useful; adjusting springs, cables or bottom brackets is a job for trained technicians.

For more detail, see the DASMA residential sectional door safety checklist and DASMA safety tips. Follow the instructions for your specific equipment.