What Happens When a Garage Door Spring Breaks?

When a garage door spring breaks, the door loses the lift power it needs, and your opener usually can't raise it anymore. That's because the springs, not the opener, carry the weight of the door. When one spring breaks, we always replace both, because they have the same lifespan.

The Springs Do the Lifting, Not the Opener

A lot of homeowners think the opener is what lifts the garage door. It isn't. The spring provides the lift power for the door. The amount of tension the springs place on the door is equal to the weight of the door, so the door is balanced.

That means the opener acts only as a guide rather than the actual lift. It moves a door that the springs are already holding up.

Why the Door Won't Open After a Spring Breaks

When one spring breaks, the pull that the springs create is cut by half. It's no longer strong enough to equal the weight of the door.

Your opener is usually between a half and 3/4 horsepower. It won't be able to lift that amount of weight. You may see the opener strain, the door lift only a few inches, or the door not move at all.

Other signs you may notice:

A loud bang from the garage, often as loud as a gunshot
A visible gap in the spring coil above the door
The door looks crooked or lifts unevenly on a two-spring system
The door feels extremely heavy

Safety warning: If you heard a bang or can see a gap in the spring, do not attempt to open the door. Garage door springs are under extreme tension, and trying to replace one yourself can cause serious injury. Leave it to a professional.

Why We Always Replace Both Springs

When one spring breaks, we always replace the second one as well. That's because the two springs have the same lifespan.

If we replace only one, the second one is probably going to break in a week or in a month. Then the labor has to be done all over again. Replacing both at the same time saves you that second visit.

A Warranty You Can Count On

Because we replace both springs, we can provide a warranty for our work. When two springs are replaced, we are sure this problem won't come back for at least 10 years. Your technician runs a full system test and gives you a written warranty before leaving your home.

Getting Your Door Working Again

We offer same-day garage door spring repair across Denver, Lafayette, Boulder County and the rest of the Denver metro. We give you a free estimate before any work begins.

Not sure your spring has actually failed? Read our guide to the 5 signs your garage door spring is about to break.

Broken Spring? Call Us Today.

Same-day spring replacement across the Denver metro. Free estimate before any work begins.

Call (720) 978-3104

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my garage door opener lift the door with a broken spring?

Usually not. The springs provide the lift power, and the opener acts only as a guide. Most openers are between a half and 3/4 horsepower, which isn't enough to lift the door's weight once a spring breaks.

Can you replace just the spring that broke?

We always replace both springs. They have the same lifespan, so if only one is replaced, the second one will probably break in a week or a month, and the labor has to be done again.

Is spring replacement covered by a warranty?

Yes. When both springs are replaced, we can provide a warranty for our work, because we are sure the problem won't come back for at least 10 years.

Can I replace a garage door spring myself?

We strongly advise against it. Garage door springs are under extreme tension, and a DIY repair can cause serious injury. Call a professional instead.