How to Tell if a Garage Door Spring Is Broken

A broken spring is easy to miss if you were not home when it happened. These signs help you check. Look from a safe distance. Do not touch the springs.

Signs you can see

• A gap in the coil of a torsion spring above the door.
• A stretched or hanging extension spring on the side.
• Cables hanging loose or slack.
• A door that sits crooked.

Signs you can hear

• A loud bang in the garage earlier.
• The opener running with a strained sound.
• Grinding or clicking when the opener tries to lift the door.

Signs you can feel

• The door will not lift more than a few inches.
• The door feels very heavy.
• The opener struggles or stops.

A word on the emergency release

Pulling the red cord disconnects the opener. With a broken spring the door can then be too heavy to hold. It may drop. Do not rely on the release to test the door.

What else can look like a broken spring?

A broken cable or an off-track door can look similar. So can an opener fault. A technician checks all of them.

What to do

Stop using the door. Take a photo of the spring if you can do it from a safe spot. Call for help. Read what a broken garage door spring sounds like for more.

Related guides: what spring noises can mean.