Can You Open a Garage Door With a Broken Spring?

The short answer is no. A broken spring makes the door very heavy. Lifting it by hand is risky.

Why it is hard to lift

The springs carry most of the door weight. When one breaks the door can feel like it weighs well over a hundred pounds. It may drop fast if your grip slips. A falling door can crush a hand or a foot.

What about the opener?

Openers are not built to lift the full weight of a door. Some will try and strain. The motor or the gears can wear out. You might hear the opener hum or click without the door moving. Stop and do not keep pressing the button.

If the door is closed and your car is inside

• Do not force the door.
• Do not pull the emergency release and then lift. The door can come down hard.
• Keep children and pets away.
• Call a technician. A door that will not lift is a common sign of a broken spring.

If the door is open and a spring breaks

• Stay out from under the door.
• Do not pull the red release cord. It can let the door drop.
• Do not drive under the door if it looks crooked or low.
• Call a technician.

How to tell it is the spring

• You heard a loud bang from the garage.
• The door will not lift more than a few inches.
• You can see a gap in a spring above the door.
• The cables hang loose.

See our guide to garage door spring repair for more signs.

What to do next

Write down what you heard and saw. Take a photo if you can do it safely. Then call for help. A spring repair is not a project for home tools. Springs store a lot of force and can cause serious injury.

Related guides: what happens if you wait on the repair and how a broken spring strains the opener.